ASHLEY YATES

WEDNESBURY MAN RECEIVES 10-YEAR SENTENCE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN UPPER GORNAL PARK

A 31-year-old man who assaulted and raped a terrified woman with learning difficulties in a park at Upper Gornal has been sentenced to ten years in prison.

The incident involved Ashley Yates, who accosted the woman while she was walking her dog in High Arcal Park.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told that Yates seized her, instructed her to stay silent, and forced her to the ground, covering her mouth when she attempted to resist.

Following the attack, he warned her, “I will see you again.” The young woman, who has learning difficulties, was left trauma-stricken and continues to experience the lasting effects of the attack.

Yates, who resides on Mark Road in Wednesbury, denied the accusations of rape and indecent assault but was found guilty after the trial.

His defence team described his actions as opportunistic and claimed that he did not accept guilt until after the verdict.

Additionally, his license will be prolonged for four years after his release, and he is required to register as a sex offender for life.

Judge Amjad Nawaz highlighted that Yates’s actions were driven by his sexual urges and emphasized that he remains a significant threat for future sexual offenses.