LINTON LONG SHOCKS COVENTRY WITH BRUTAL RAPE AND ROBBERY IN THE CITY CENTRE
In October 2014, a harrowing incident unfolded in Coventry that left a young woman traumatized and shaken.The victim, a 21-year-old woman, was subjected to a terrifying assault by a man who targeted her as she was walking home after a night out in the city.
The attacker, later identified as Linton Long, forcibly dragged her into an alleyway, where he committed a series of heinous acts that would forever alter her sense of safety and security.
According to reports, the assault began when Long, a 41-year-old man residing on Adderley Street in Hillfields, approached the woman from behind.
She was walking along King William Street around 4 a.m., having just left the Kasbah nightclub located in Primrose Hill Street.
Despite the heavy rain, she chose to walk home, sending a message to her boyfriend expressing her love.
It was at this moment that Long, described as a physically strong manual worker who had been in the city centre until 3:47 a.m., struck her from behind, hitting her on the back of the head.
Surveillance footage from a nearby CCTV camera captured the horrifying sequence.
The footage showed Long punching the woman again while she was face down on the ground, causing a cut to her cheek.
He then ordered her to get to her feet and instructed her to do as she was told, before frogmarching her into an alleyway.
During this ordeal, he warned her that if she cooperated, she would not be harmed.
Long directed her to face away from him and inquired if she had any money, to which she responded that he could take her purse.
In the secluded alley, Long subjected her to a terrifying sexual assault.
The victim was held there for nearly 15 minutes, during which she endured a series of degrading and violent acts.
The assault concluded when Long took her scarf, blindfolded her with it, and told her to count to ten before removing the makeshift blindfold.
Once she complied, she found herself alone, shaken and crying.
She managed to exit the alley and, in a state of distress, approached a French national nearby, informing him that she had been raped.
She then used his phone to call the police, seeking help after her ordeal.
Long, who had no prior criminal record, was arrested and brought in for questioning.
During the interview, he claimed to have no memory of the events following his departure from Club M, suggesting that someone had spiked his drink.
However, prosecutor Lee Marklew dismissed this explanation, asserting that Long’s actions demonstrated a calm and calculated demeanor.
The evidence indicated that Long was familiar with the area, having lived in Hillfields all his life and knowing all the alleys and rat-runs in the vicinity.
The victim’s life was profoundly affected by the attack.
She now experiences fear when walking alone and has sought counseling to cope with her trauma, although she has chosen to try to manage her feelings independently.
The impact of such violence extends beyond the individual, as Judge Richard Griffith-Jones emphasized during sentencing, noting that the incident instills fear in other women and disrupts their daily routines.
In court, Long’s defense solicitor, Sally Hancox, expressed remorse, stating that Long was horrified by his actions and that they were entirely out of character.
Despite this, the judge sentenced Long to seven years and two months in prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, one of assault by penetration, and one of robbery.
Additionally, Long was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.
The judge highlighted the premeditated nature of the crime, noting that Long had carefully planned the attack during the early hours of the morning in the pouring rain, with few witnesses around.
The court described the attack as evil and wicked, emphasizing the brutality and humiliation inflicted upon the victim, and underscoring the profound impact such crimes have on the community and the safety of women in Coventry.
