LEVI AND OTHIE LEE FROM CANNOCK AND WALSALL SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL ALLEYWAY RAPE IN APPLEBY

In a harrowing case that has shocked the local communities of Appleby, a pair of teenage boys, Levi Stephen Lee, 18, and Othie Danny Lee, 19, have been sentenced to significant prison terms after being convicted of a violent and cowardly assault on a 15-year-old girl. The incident occurred in broad daylight in 2019, during the time of the renowned Appleby Horse Fair, a period when the town was bustling with visitors and locals alike.

Levi Lee, who resides on Willenhall Lane in Walsall, and Othie Lee, from New Street in Bridgetown, Cannock, showed no remorse during the court proceedings, despite the gravity of their actions. Their crime involved forcibly dragging the young girl into an alleyway away from public view, where they subjected her to a horrific sexual assault. The court heard that the assault was carried out in turns, with one acting as a lookout while the other committed the rape, treating the girl as an object to satisfy their own sexual desires.

The court was told that the assault began when Levi Lee grabbed the girl by the hand. Witnesses described how he then dragged her across the street, over a bridge, and into a secluded alley, deliberately avoiding CCTV cameras. Othie Lee quickly followed, and together they committed the assault. The girl later confided in her mother that she was terrified of the two teenagers, fearing they might have a knife and could potentially kill her. Her ordeal left her deeply traumatized, affecting her mental health and daily life.

During the sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge Ian Unsworth KC emphasized the cowardice of the defendants in contrast to the bravery of the victim, who has publicly stated her determination not to let the assault define her. The judge highlighted that the girl was no match for the two larger and stronger boys, and her experience was a terrifying ordeal that she would carry with her for life.

Both Levi and Othie Lee, who were aged 14 and 15 respectively at the time of the attack, were convicted after a three-week trial, despite denying the charges. They received sentences of five years and four months each. The judge condemned their lack of remorse and their attempts at victim blaming, which he described as dishonest and shameful. He pointed out that the defendants had shown no signs of self-reflection or regret during the proceedings.

The impact on the victim was profound. Her statement read aloud in court revealed her resilience: "My message to both of you is that you raped me on that day but it will not define me as a person. I have turned a corner in my life; I am coming out of my shell." Despite her strength, the psychological scars remain. The girl suffered from severe anxiety, became suspicious of males, and experienced sleep disturbances, including sleeping with the light on for two years after the assault. The court also noted that she was subjected to bullying, which added to her suffering and shame.

Judge Unsworth described her as a remarkably brave young woman, whose courage starkly contrasted with the defendants' cowardice. He stated that her ordeal had caused her to withdraw from school and significantly impacted her mental health. The court also observed that the defendants had shown no empathy for their victim, and their actions had caused lasting damage.

The court further heard that the assault was carried out in a manner that left the girl feeling helpless and terrified, fearing that the defendants might have a weapon and could kill her. As part of their sentence, both Levi and Othie Lee will be registered on the Sex Offender Register indefinitely. They are required to serve at least two-thirds of their sentences before being eligible to apply for parole.

In determining the severity of their punishment, Judge Unsworth considered an adult equivalent sentence of 11 years in custody, taking into account the aggravating and mitigating factors of the case. The court's decision underscores the seriousness of the crime and the need for justice for the young victim, whose life was turned upside down by the cowardly acts of these two teenagers from Cannock and Walsall.