Double rapist, 16, who claimed teenage victims ‘led him on’ is locked up

The 16-year-old continued to “besmirch” the reputation of his two victims even after admitting the attacks by claiming to a youth offending team worker they had “led him on”.

The boy, who cannot be named, already had convictions for violence and robbery before preying on his victims in separate attacks in the Harehills and Potternewton areas of Leeds.

Nicholas Askins, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court the youngster attacked a 13-year-old girl in November last year in Potternewton Park.

The girl had become separated from her friends when she was approached by her attacker and a group of his friends.

He threatened the youngster, forced her onto her knees and ordered her to perform a sex act upon him. During her ordeal she was told not to look to her right.

Mr Askins said it was thought this was because his friends were filming was happening and it may have been shown later around their school.

The teenager struck again in February this year, targeting a 15-year-old-girl and forcing her to go into a bin yard near Bayswater Street, Harehills.

He held a knife to the girl’s chest throughout the attack. He attacked her again in a street two months later when he saw her in Sandhurst Place, head butting her to the ground and punching her several times.

The boy pleaded guilty to two offences of rape and one of assault. Michael Smith, mitigating, said the youngster was immature but was now engaging with young offender groups.

Detaining him for seven years, Recorder Martin Bethel said the youngster’s attitude towards his victims was of great concern.