Teenage burglar raped woman, 86, at a care home while out on bail

Dale Boocock, 19, was high on drink and drugs when he entered Springfield care home and kidnapped the victim.

The pensioner, who was bed-bound and suffered from dementia and incontinence, was left bruised and bloodied after the attack last September.

Bradford Crown Court was told she died two months later, although doctors said her ordeal did not cause her death.

It emerged that Boocock, who was jailed indefinitely today, had carried out a number of burglaries, including one following the care home sex attack.

In the early hours of September 15 last year, Boocock went to the care home, entered a ground-floor flat and dragged the victim out of her bed, across flagstones and into the garden where he raped her.

His victim was discovered lying on the ground in a distressed state and shaking. While she was being treated at Bradford Royal Infirmary she told medics "What have I done wrong? Go beat him for me."

The teenager was arrested later that day during a stop-check by police officers who had received a report of a burglary. A DNA sample was taken and a match made with the rape.

Boocock, of no fixed address, was given an indeterminate prison sentence for public protection with a minimum term of four years and nine months.

Recorder Colin Burn said it was likely he would stay in prison longer than the minimum term imposed today. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

He said Boocock posed a significant risk to the public, particularly vulnerable people.

He told him: "You were released on police bail for September 13 matters and you went on to commit other offences of rape and kidnap, perpetrated against an elderly, infirm and extremely vulnerable victim living in nursing accommodation.

"You had no thought for her whatsoever. You forcibly removed her from her bed, you dragged her outside at night into the garden, causing her injury, and you raped her outside, leaving her in dreadful distress and unrest on the ground.

"I have no doubt that, whatever the eventual cause of death was, her prognosis deteriorated rapidly as a result of what you did that night and she died two months later."

The judge said it was "an appalling offence" and Boocock had shown "almost unbelievable callousness" in committing a further burglary.

The victim's daughter said her mother's ordeal had left her devastated.

In a victim impact statement, she revealed that she cried every day over her mother's ordeal and when she visited her in hospital she "saw the fear in her eyes".

In mitigation, Giles Bridge said Boocock did not plan the rape and kidnap and was a teenager of limited intelligence.

He said: "It wasn't pre-planned or premeditated. He entered the home with the intention of committing burglary. He then took the decision with terrible consequences."

Boocock admitted rape and kidnap, attempted burglary and two house burglaries.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Jon Hoyle, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "Today Dale Boocock has been sentenced to imprisonment after pleading guilty to the kidnap and rape of an 86-year-old lady, the circumstances of which can only be described as vile and beyond belief.

"The only consolation I can offer the family is that Boocock was arrested soon after the offence and has been dealt with by the courts quickly and he will remain in prison for a very long time.

"However, this will never make up for the loss of a wife, a mother, a grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, after she tragically passed away just seven weeks after the incident.

"During my short involvement with this family it became apparent that she was a very special person to many."