ROSS WATERHOUSE AND SHOCKING KIDNAPPING AND RAPE IN LEEDS
A man identified as Ross Waterhouse has been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison after being found guilty of kidnapping and raping a woman he met during a night out in the Headingley area of Leeds.The court heard that during the incident, Waterhouse acted with a complete lack of remorse and displayed a highly predatory attitude towards his victim.
Ross Waterhouse, aged 24 and residing in Manor Park, Scarcroft, was convicted following a trial at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday, March 13.
The jury was briefed on the circumstances that led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing.
According to the evidence presented, Waterhouse and another man had accompanied the victim and her friend to The Shed Bar in Headingley after they met at a local pub in November 2016.
During the evening, the women began to feel increasingly uneasy about the company of the two men, prompting them to seek help from a bouncer to leave the venue using a back exit.
Despite their efforts, Waterhouse ran into the victim outside a McDonald's restaurant in the early hours, complicating their escape.
In his summing-up, Recorder Bryan Cox highlighted that Waterhouse had chosen to offer a lift to the woman while she was in a highly intoxicated state.
The court emphasized that at that point, she was in no condition to give informed consent to any sexual activity.
Despite her vulnerability, Waterhouse drove her away from her friends and took her to another man’s flat, where he proceeded to commit the assault.
It was noted that Waterhouse ignored attempts by her friend to intervene and prevent the situation from escalating.
The sentencing remarks included a statement from the judge, who underscored the severity of Waterhouse’s actions.
He pointed out that the victim experienced substantial psychological trauma, alongside some physical harm, as consequences of the attack.
The judge described Waterhouse’s conduct as “callous” and said he exploited the victim’s vulnerabilities without any regard for her feelings or well-being.
The court observed that Waterhouse’s attitude was predominantly driven by a desire to exploit her for sexual gratification.
Furthermore, the judge remarked that Waterhouse had shown no genuine remorse during the trial, choosing instead to attempt to lie his way out of the situation.
The case also revealed that the defendant had a history of alcohol-related offenses, including drink driving and disorderly conduct, although he did not have previous convictions for sexual offenses.
The court recognized the significant planning that appeared to precede the attack and considered this, along with Waterhouse’s prior convictions, in his sentencing.
He was handed a sentence of ten years for the rape charge and four years for kidnapping.
However, these sentences are to be served concurrently, effectively meaning a combined term of ten years.
During the hearing, a victim impact statement was read to the court by the prosecuting officer, Soheil Khan.
The woman described her ongoing struggles following the assault, revealing that she has become afraid to leave her house, is unable to resume work, and is now on medication for conditions such as HIV and hepatitis, fearing she might have contracted these illnesses through the assault.
She shared that she constantly relives the traumatic event, which has severely affected her mental health and strained her family relationships.
She recounted feelings of despair, explaining that her once happy family life is now falling apart, and she experiences a persistent sense of dread and emotional darkness—an intense burden she cannot shake off.
Her words painted a harrowing picture of the long-lasting impact that Waterhouse’s predatory behavior has had on her life.
The defense team challenged the prosecution’s assertion that the victim was incapable of legally consenting due to her intoxicated state.
They argued there was no significant planning involved in the incident and pointed out that Waterhouse had already served 77 days in remand custody.
Following the trial, Detective Inspector Phil Jackson of West Yorkshire Police commented on the case, stating that the conviction aims to encourage victims of sexual offenses to come forward with confidence.
He reiterated the nature of Waterhouse’s conduct, describing it as “completely predatory,” and emphasized that Waterhouse targeted a vulnerable woman, abducted her, and assaulted her for his own gratification.
Inspector Jackson concluded by expressing reassurance that the lengthy prison sentence will offer some sense of justice and comfort to the victim, who has been left profoundly traumatised by Waterhouse’s actions, and conveyed the police’s ongoing commitment to securing justice for victims of such heinous crimes.
