OLIVER LUKE FROM REDRUTH SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL SEX ATTACKS IN CORNWALL

In November 2020, a disturbing series of sexual assaults committed by Oliver Luke, an 18-year-old resident of Loscombe Lane in Four Lanes near Redruth, Cornwall, came to light through court proceedings. Luke, who appeared at Truro Crown Court to face sentencing, had previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges including two counts of assault by penetration, sexual assault, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His crimes involved violent and predatory behavior targeting young women in various locations across Cornwall, including public and private spaces.

Prosecutor Peter Coumbe detailed the first incident, which occurred in October of the previous year. The victim, a woman in her mid-20s, was at her home in Redruth with friends when Luke, a stranger to her, was invited by one of her friends. After the friends left, leaving her alone with Luke, he asked for a cigarette and followed her into the bedroom. Despite her request for him to leave, Luke ignored her and proceeded to touch her over her clothes, then forcibly yanked her belt until it broke. He then placed his hands around her neck, squeezing tightly enough to restrict her breathing for approximately five minutes. The attack left her visibly distressed, and she managed to escape, although she was left shaken and injured.

Following this assault, Luke was arrested and interviewed by police. However, he was released under investigation, only to strike again several months later. On May 17 of this year, while still under investigation for the earlier incident, Luke targeted a second victim in Camborne. This young woman, who was homeless at the time, was drinking in a park with friends when she encountered Luke, whom she had met previously. She recalls lying on the ground with someone straddling her and strangling her, but due to oxygen deprivation, she could not identify her attacker at the moment. She eventually managed to reach her accommodation, only to find herself naked from the waist down and without her belongings. DNA evidence later confirmed that Luke had penetrated her, and witnesses reported hearing noises coming from the grounds of the Camborne Conservative Club during the attack.

Just six days after this second assault, Luke was seen targeting yet another woman while he was still on bail for the previous offences. This 20-year-old woman was out drinking in St Austell and was walking home through a cemetery when Luke approached her. Her worried partner, concerned for her safety, went looking for her and found Luke holding her against him. The partner observed Luke’s exposed penis and noted that the woman was only partially dressed, with her underwear pulled aside. The partner responded by kicking Luke and then calling the police as Luke fled the scene. During this incident, Luke used the alias Olly Isaacs.

Judge Simon Carr delivered the sentence, emphasizing the severity and brutality of Luke’s actions. He stated, “In October 2019, you assaulted a woman in her mid-20s who was effectively a stranger to you. You deliberately waited until you were alone with her, followed her into the bedroom, and attacked her, sexually assaulting her over her clothing. You strangled her to the point she was unable to breathe, a feature consistent with your subsequent attacks on other women.”

Referring to the May 17 incident, the judge added, “It is clear that the meeting that night was purely chance, and there was no prior connection between you and the victim. She was out celebrating with friends and walking home alone when you identified her and followed her. CCTV footage shows you targeting her because of her vulnerability. The next thing she remembers is being on the ground, being strangled, and being sexually assaulted with your finger. She was left in such a distressed state that she walked home naked from the waist down.”

Judge Carr further highlighted Luke’s pattern of predatory behavior, noting that he targeted women who appeared vulnerable, often under the influence of alcohol. He pointed out that Luke’s actions were motivated by sexual desire and that he suffered from a dysfunctional and damaging childhood, along with an emotionally unstable personality disorder and elements of PTSD. The judge expressed concern about the ongoing risk Luke posed to women, stating, “He presents a very significant risk to women and may well do so for the rest of his life.”

As a result, Oliver Luke was sentenced to a total of eight years in prison, with an additional three years to be served on license. Furthermore, he is required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the threat he poses to society.