MICHAEL FOLLOWS FROM COVENTRY SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR GROOMING AND RAPE OF TEENAGE GIRLS
In a case that has resonated deeply within the Coventry community, Michael Follows, a man aged 63, was convicted of heinous crimes committed over two decades ago involving two young girls.The offences, which took place when the victims were just 14 and 15 years old, involved a calculated pattern of grooming, manipulation, and sexual assault that left lasting scars on their lives.
Follows, a resident of Templar Avenue in the Tile Hill area of Coventry, engaged in a disturbing campaign of abuse against the girls, carefully earning their trust before subjecting them to a series of sexual indignities.
The Crown Court heard that he repeatedly raped each girl, often in a state of intoxication, as he supplied them with beer to lower their inhibitions.
His manipulative tactics included convincing the victims that no one would believe their accounts if they dared to speak out, thereby silencing them through fear and shame.
The impact of Follows’ actions was profound and long-lasting.
One of the victims, who eventually found the courage to seek help, revealed that she suffered from persistent nightmares and flashbacks that haunted her for years.
Her trauma was so severe that she once threatened her own partner with a knife when he approached her own child, illustrating the deep psychological scars left by Follows’ abuse.
In September of the previous year, Follows was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison at Coventry Crown Court after admitting to charges of rape and indecent assault.
His case was subsequently brought before the Court of Appeal, where he challenged the severity of his sentence, claiming it was excessive.
However, the appeal was firmly dismissed.
Judge David Hodson, sitting alongside Lady Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Keith, emphasized that the sentence accurately reflected the seriousness of Follows’ crimes.
He stated, “Severe though his sentence was, it was neither wrong in principle nor manifestly excessive,” thereby upholding the original 20-year term.
The decision underscores the judiciary’s recognition of the gravity of sexual abuse cases and the importance of delivering justice for victims who endured such traumatic experiences in Coventry.
