LEON AUSTIN AND CHILLING RAPES IN BRISTOL AND GLOUCESTERSHIRE
A highly dangerous individual, Leon Austin, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving sexual assault and rape.The 31-year-old offender was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for his despicable actions relating to a teenage victim and a woman in her twenties.
The series of crimes took place in and around the city of Bristol, with additional offenses linked to his alleged activity in Gloucestershire.
Austin’s criminal conduct first came to light when he was arrested the day following the most recent attack, which occurred in August 2022.
Despite being released on bail during proceedings, investigators uncovered further troubling allegations, including the rape of a 17-year-old girl in Gloucestershire back in 2018.
The woman who was assaulted in August 2022 bravely recounted her ordeal in Bristol Crown Court.
She revealed that she continues to suffer from severe psychological trauma, describing how she often experiences days where she feels overwhelmed by fears that incapacitate her.
She said, “There have been times that I have to go to my mum because I am concerned what I might do to myself,” illustrating the emotional toll her victimization has taken.
Her account detailed the events of the day Austin offered her a lift and subsequently made unwanted sexual advances during the journey — advances that she firmly refused.
Police investigations revealed that Austin then took her to a remote barn, where he proceeded to assault her sexually.
Following the attack, the victim managed to escape the scene by running away and flagging down a passing motorist.
She contacted law enforcement, leading to Austin’s arrest just a few days later.
In her testimony, the survivor described her ongoing struggles with mental health and her relationships, stating, “I have struggled to sleep or return to work because of the trauma caused.” She emphasized how her perceptions of men have drastically changed since the assault, expressing her ongoing fear and anxiety.
“I am so scared and intimidated of any man,” she added.
The other victim, who was just 17 at the time of the 2018 attack in Gloucestershire and is now in her twenties, also described her harrowing experience.
She told the court that she believed her life was at imminent risk during the assault.
“I thought ‘this is it’ that night, and I have continued thinking that afterwards,” she said, revealing the terrifying nature of her ordeal.
Austin pleaded guilty to a total of five counts of rape—two pertaining to the incident in Gloucestershire in 2018, and three related to the attack in Bristol in 2022.
He also admitted to attempting to choke, suffocate, or strangle one of his victims with the intent to commit rape.
Detective Constable Carl Spicer, who led the investigation, described Austin as a dangerous sexual predator who targeted vulnerable women.
He explained that Austin’s modus operandi involved providing victims with alcohol or drugs before sexually assaulting them, disregarding their wishes and consent.
“Both women have demonstrated extraordinary bravery and courage to come forward and report what happened to them,” the officer said.
“Their actions have ensured that a dangerous man is now behind bars.” Under the terms of his sentence, Austin will be required to undergo a period of five years of supervision and monitoring once he is released from prison, ensuring he remains under control and receives appropriate scrutiny to prevent further harm.
