CHARLES SHIMELLS FROM BRANSHOLME SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC ATTACK ON TEENAGER IN HULL

In a disturbing incident that took place in Hull, a 52-year-old man named Charles Shimells from the Bransholme area committed a brutal assault on a teenage girl, leaving a lasting impact on her life. The attack occurred on the evening of November 30, with the incident beginning around 6 pm, when Shimells unlawfully entered the girl’s residence.

According to reports, Shimells brought a hunting knife, which he tied to his arm using a shoelace, as he intruded into the girl’s home. Once inside, he threatened her with the weapon, explicitly warning that he would cut her throat if she did not comply. The situation quickly escalated into a sexual assault, during which Shimells subjected the young girl, who was under 17 at the time, to a traumatic experience that she would carry with her for years to come.

Following the assault, Shimells took a drastic and self-destructive step by ingesting a quantity of tablets in an apparent attempt to end his own life. He also attempted to slash his wrists with the same knife, but his plans were thwarted when the girl, in a desperate effort to prevent him from harming himself further, managed to grab the weapon. During this struggle, she was accidentally stabbed in the hand. Seizing the opportunity as Shimells lost consciousness, she managed to escape from the scene.

Neighbours, alerted by her distress, raised the alarm, prompting police officers to respond swiftly. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they found Shimells collapsed on the floor of the girl’s home. He was still clutching the 7-inch knife, with additional items such as blue rope and a bottle of tablets nearby. The officers detained him and transported him for medical treatment.

Prosecutor Simon Waley described the incident, stating that Shimells admitted to taking tablets on the day of the attack and expressed a desire to kill himself. He claimed to have no memory of the events that followed. Shimells was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to charges of rape and sexual activity with a child.

In court, Judge Jeremy Baker QC sentenced Shimells to nine years in prison. The judge emphasized the danger Shimells posed to the public, describing the attack as an "appalling and terrifying ordeal" for the young girl involved. He further remarked that the girl’s traumatic experience would likely stay with her for a very long time.

It was also revealed that Shimells has a prior conviction for wounding, after he punched an ex-partner in the face, threatened her with a knife, and slashed her. As part of his sentence, Shimells has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and is permanently banned from working with children, reflecting the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.