JAMIE GROVES FROM GLOUCESTER JAILED FOR RAPE NEAR KINGSHOLM RUGBY GROUND

In a case that has shocked the Gloucester community, Jamie Groves, aged 21, has been sentenced to four years in prison following his conviction for the heinous crime of raping a 14-year-old girl in an alleyway close to Gloucester's renowned Kingsholm rugby ground.

Groves, who resides on Sapperton Road in Gloucester, had previously admitted to the assault, which took place on October 23, 2011. His admission came after a period of legal uncertainty; initially, he was scheduled to stand trial at Gloucester Crown Court last October. However, at the last moment, Groves chose to plead guilty to the charges, avoiding a jury trial. The court then ordered a psychological assessment to better understand his mental state and background.

The court proceedings revealed that Groves and the young girl had first met at Gloucester Leisure Centre, also known as GL1. Following their initial meeting, Groves obtained her telephone number through Facebook and began texting her. Prosecutor Sarah Regan detailed the nature of their communication, stating that Groves sent flirtatious messages such as, “you are pretty fit by the way” and “I think you’re lush.”

Despite the girl making it clear that she wanted to maintain a platonic relationship and informing Groves that she had a boyfriend, the messages persisted. The court heard that Groves had removed the girl’s trousers and underwear with her consent but continued the assault after she explicitly told him to stop. The victim later sent a text message asserting, “I never let you, you did it. When I told you to stop and you never did,” highlighting her distress and the trauma she endured.

Prosecutor Regan emphasized the resilience of the young girl, noting that she was offered the chance to avoid giving evidence by accepting a lesser plea but chose to stand firm. She described her as a “very intelligent and capable young woman,” whose bravery in facing the court was commendable.

Defence lawyer Paul Trotman described Groves as a person with significant developmental challenges, citing a doctor’s report that characterized him as having a “child in an adult body.” The report also noted that Groves suffers from ADHD and bipolar disorder, conditions that have impacted his behavior and life experiences. Despite these difficulties, Judge Jamie Tabor QC made it clear that Groves was fully aware of the wrongfulness of his actions.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Tabor emphasized that Groves’s behavior demonstrated a clear understanding of his misconduct. He stated, “You have had some real difficulties in life – you suffered from ADHD and were recently diagnosed as bipolar. You went to two special schools that you behaved pretty badly at. But I am quite satisfied that you knew perfectly well what you did was quite wrong. You have demonstrated you are quite capable of communicating with others and you were putting pressure on her to have a relationship. You knew perfectly well what you were doing.”

Additionally, the court imposed a seven-year Sexual Offenders Prevention Order to restrict Groves’s future conduct and protect the community from potential reoffending.

Earlier, in October 2012, Groves had also admitted to the same crime after initially denying the allegations. He had been scheduled for a jury trial but changed his plea at the last minute, claiming that the girl had asked him to stop during their sexual encounter, which he did not do. The court was told that Groves and the girl had met at GL1 and that he had developed a relationship with her before the incident in Kingsholm.

During the hearing, Groves’s solicitor, Andrew Hobson, requested a “Goodyear” direction, which would indicate the likely sentence if Groves pleaded guilty. The medical report presented indicated that Groves has mild Tourettes and attention deficit syndrome, or possibly some form of autism. Judge Tabor stated that his sentence would depend on whether Groves’s mental age was assessed as being as low as 15 or 16, which could potentially reduce his sentence by half. Nonetheless, the maximum sentence he could impose remained four years.

Following further discussions with his parents and legal counsel, Groves ultimately pleaded guilty to the charge of rape. The judge then ordered that Groves be bailed on the condition that he does not contact the victim and stays away from the sporting club she attends, ensuring measures are in place to prevent further harm.

This case underscores the serious nature of sexual offenses involving minors and highlights the importance of judicial measures to protect vulnerable young individuals from predatory behavior. The community in Gloucester continues to grapple with the implications of this disturbing incident, which has brought to light the need for vigilance and support for victims of such crimes.