Man handed 26 year sentence for sexual offences against young woman in Leeds
He was found guilty of charges including rape, kidnap and GBH
A West Yorkshire man has been handed a 26 and a half year jail sentence for the sexual abuse of a woman in Leeds, who was just a child when she first met him.
32 year old Ashley Roberts, of Colliery Close in Allerton Bywater, was found guilty of 14 offences against his victim.
The charges included seven offences of rape, two counts of sexual assault, kidnap, grievous bodily harm, intentional strangulation, and two counts of threats to kill.
Roberts was also found guilty of child neglect in relation to another victim.
He was handed a 26 and a half year prison term last Thursday (July 24) along with an extended licence period of five years.
He'll be on the sex offenders register for life.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “I close my eyes and I am back there, in that place, fighting, doing anything to stay alive."
“You may have kidnapped, raped and beat me but eventually I won’t need to look over my shoulder or be scared because you didn’t break me…”
Detective Constable Argie Dratzidis of West Yorkshire Police said:
“I firstly want to recognise the sheer bravery of our victim for her courage to come forward to police to report the harrowing abuse she was subjected to but also for navigating the complex and lengthy criminal justice process.
“Roberts is a violent and predatory sexual offender who refused to take accountability for his actions.
"The sentence handed to Roberts, should be a reminder that sexual abuse and violence will not be tolerated. We will continue to do all we can to fight for justice.”