Leeds nightclub doorman jailed for sex attack on woman

A doorman has been jailed for five years after being found guilty of raping a young woman in the toilets of the nightclub where worked.
Bouncer Shaun Hill, jailed for the attack on a woman at Bar Phono, Leeds.Bouncer Shaun Hill, jailed for the attack on a woman at Bar Phono, Leeds.
Bouncer Shaun Hill, jailed for the attack on a woman at Bar Phono, Leeds.

Shaun Hill, 39, collapsed and wept in the dock at Leeds Crown Court after the jury reached a unanimous verdict following a two-day trial.

The court heard Hill followed the 21-year-old victim into a toilet cubicle at Bar Phono in Leeds city centre before forcing her to perform a sex act on him on April 20 last year.

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Jurors heard Hill had spoken to the woman, who was described as “intoxicated” and had taken cocaine, earlier in the evening and they had been laughing and joking with each other.

After the sex attack the woman told a police officer, who was outside the club attending a separate incident, about the incident. She reported the matter the next morning.

Hill, of Ashwood Grove, Barnsley, gave evidence at the trial in which he claimed the victim had “flirted” with him.The married father-of-two said she had consented to the sex that took place between them.

He told the jury: “I knew it was wrong because of my missus and my children but I couldn’t stop it for some reason. I don’t know why.”

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Judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, told Hill that he had abused a position of trust and responsibility.

He said: “It was a dreadful ordeal to which you subjected her. The courts have to protect young women even those who have consumed a large amount of alcohol or taken drugs.”

Detective Chief Inspector Gail Lawrie, of Operation Topaz, West Yorkshire Police’s dedicated rape investigation unit, said: “As a member of door staff, Hill was in a position of trust where his role was to keep people safe. He abused that position to exploit the victim for his own sexual gratification when she was in a vulnerable state.

“We hope she will take some degree of comfort from the fact that he has now had to face the consequences of his actions.”

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During the trial, prosecutor Kirstie Watson described how the woman went into the toilet cubicle but there was no lock on the door.

Miss Watson said Hill then walked into the cubicle as she was using the toilet, closed the door and leant back against it before forced her to carry out a sex act on him.

Miss Watson said: “She was shocked and froze when this happened.”

Hill then left the toilet and the woman went to find her friend. She then went outside and spoke to a police constable who was dealing with a public disorder incident. Hill was arrested and denied any wrongdoing.

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He told officers the he had sexual contact with the woman after she asked him to go to the toilet with her and claimed she took part willingly.

The prosecutor said: “He said it was all down to her and not down to him.”