COUSINS JAILED FOR RAPING SCHOOLGIRL
Levi Stephen Lee, aged 18, along with Othie Danny Lee, aged 19, showed no remorse following their heinous crime committed openly in 2019 during the Appleby Horse Fair event.During the sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge Ian Unsworth KC highlighted the disparity between the defendants' actions and the bravery of their victim, who expressed her determination not to let the incident define her life.
Both young men, who were 14 and 15 years old at the time of the offense, received sentences of five years and four months each.
Despite denying the charges of rape, they were convicted after a three-week trial.
Addressing the defendants in court, Judge Unsworth stated: “It is plain that this was a terrifying ordeal for [the victim].
..She was no match for the two of you.
You were both larger and stronger than her.” The judge observed that their conduct during the trial revealed no sign of remorse or self-awareness.
He criticized them for victim blaming and accused them of conspiring to present a false account of events to the jury.
“You are each without shame; you are each without remorse.” he said, referencing the devastating impact on the victim’s mental health.
She developed fears of men, had difficulty sleeping, and had to keep the lights on for two years after the assault.
The judge condemned the bullying she endured after the attack, calling it behaviour that should be deeply ashamed of.
Excerpts from the victim’s statement were read, in which she declared: “My message to both of you is that you raped me on that day but it will no define me as a person.
I have turned a corner in my life; and I am coming out of my shell.” Despite her resilience, the court acknowledged her severe psychological suffering.
“She is a remarkably brave young woman, whose bravery contrasts with your utter cowardice,” the judge remarked.
The assault began when Levi Lee forcibly took the girl’s hand, dragging and marching her away from CCTV cameras into an alley.
Othie Lee soon followed.
While in the alley, both took turns raping her, with one acting as lookout, using her as an object to satisfy their needs, the court heard.
It was clear she did not consent, and she later confided to her mother her fears that the teenagers might have had a knife or could have harmed her fatally.
The defendants will be on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and must serve at least two-thirds of their sentences before applying for parole.
Neither showed any empathy towards their victim, and their lawyers argued they were immature at the time of the offense.
Upon concluding the sentencing, Judge Unsworth praised the police officers’ professionalism, particularly highlighting Sergeant Michael Gilsenan’s role in a complex investigation.
In cases involving juvenile offenders, the law requires that sentences are roughly half what they would be for adults.
A recommended adult equivalent sentence for this case was 11 years, considering the severity and circumstances of the crimes.
