SAMUEL FORTES AND HORRIFIC RAPE IN SHEFFIELD AND LEEDS CITY CENTRE
A disturbing incident captured on CCTV footage has revealed the brutality of a sexual assault carried out by Samuel Fortes, a Portuguese national who was residing in Sheffield.The footage shows Fortes following a young woman, a 19-year-old blonde, as she was attempting to make her way home in Leeds city centre during the early hours of Saturday, June 23.
The sequence of events underscores the terrifying ordeal that culminated in a violent rape beneath a footbridge.
According to court reports, Fortes had been wandering around Leeds city centre for several hours during the night.
It was around 3 a.m.
when the woman, who had been out with friends, was approached on St Paul’s Street by Fortes, who then asked her for her phone number.
When she declined the request and continued walking, she engaged in a video chat with her boyfriend to stay safe and to signal her intention to reach home.
However, Fortes did not accept her rejection and persisted in following her.
The court heard that the woman became aware she was being tailed and turned around to confront her pursuer, asking if he had lost his friends.
Fortes indicated in a vague manner towards the city centre, but his intentions remained threatening.
To deter him, the woman falsely claimed her friends were nearby, knowing full well they were not.
The CCTV footage vividly captures her stopping to sit on a wall to allow Fortes to pass—and initially, he does walk past her.
Nevertheless, he then paused, appearing to urinate on a lamppost, before resuming his pursuit.
As she continued walking, Fortes ran after her and ultimately detained her beneath a flyover.
Off-camera, his assault unfolded as he seized her from behind, dragging and carrying her under the structure.
During this assault, her boyfriend managed to take screenshots showing Fortes stamping on her face.
Unfortunately, her phone was destroyed in the struggle, preventing further evidence.
Despite this, the woman’s call to the police was made shortly afterward.
Under the cover of darkness beneath the flyover, Fortes committed the heinous act of raping the young woman.
Throughout the assault, she questioned him, asking why he was doing this to her.
In response, he repeatedly punched her in the face, causing her to fear for her life.
She fought back fiercely, pulling at his hair in a desperate attempt to free herself.
Passersby later discovered her handbag, keys, and her smashed phone on the footbridge—evidence that the assault had just occurred, and individuals disrupted the attack.
One man attempted to pursue Fortes as he fled the scene on foot, but he succeeded in escaping into nearby bushes, where he hid for an hour before fleeing to his Sheffield residence.
The footage resumes as Fortes departs the scene, visibly distressed, with clumps of hair coming out of his curly black hair.
Police arrested him at his home in Sheffield, where the same hair loss was evident.
During the investigation, officers discovered him with significant hair loss, matching the evidence from the scene.
The victim later appeared in court, visibly shaken, to confront her attacker and deliver a powerful statement.
She told the court, “I pity you,” illustrating the profound emotional and physical toll the assault has taken on her.
She incurred a facial fracture, which, although healed, remains a constant reminder of her trauma.
Other injuries included a concussion and chronic headaches that often caused her to faint.
Her physical injuries required hospital treatment, as did her dental injuries.
The young woman explained that her mental health had deteriorated drastically following the attack.
She described days when she could not leave her bed, feeling hopeless and questioning her own worth.
She had to undergo prophylactic treatment to prevent HIV infection.
Her testimony revealed her struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, intrusive memories, and fears.
She recounted vivid nightmares of Fortes' face and the terrifying feeling she experienced during the assault, which she described as deathly.
She also shared that her perception of people with features similar to Fortes’ has been permanently altered, though she clarified she does not wish to discriminate against others based on race or appearance.
Her account emphasized that her sense of control and trust has been profoundly damaged, and she struggles with feelings of dehumanization and vulnerability.
Family members have spoken of her pain; her father compared her emotional devastation to a flower being stomped on after 19 years of nurturing.
Despite her trauma, she expressed a desire not to be seen as damaged or permanently scarred.
She explained how her relationship with her boyfriend has been affected, particularly because he witnessed part of the attack before her phone was smashed, leading to ongoing conversations about moving forward.
The investigation and subsequent trial received support from West Yorkshire Police.
Detective Superintendent Jaz Khan, of the Protective Services (Crime) team, praised her bravery for speaking out and assisting in bringing Fortes to justice.
Khan highlighted the importance of evidence, including a crucial screenshot taken by her boyfriend and DNA analysis that linked Fortes to the crime scene.
The police released some footage from the case, with the victim’s consent, to demonstrate their commitment to transparency and victim support.
During the arrest, police recovered a piece of hair from Fortes that matched evidence collected at the scene.
The investigation involved forensic teams meticulously searching the area for clues, underscoring the importance of early evidence collection in generating a conviction.
Fortes' sentencing was pronounced today, with the court deeming him a 'grave and immediate' danger to the public.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of eight years before being eligible for parole.
The authorities emphasized that crimes of this severity are rare in Leeds and Sheffield but assured the public that they work tirelessly to bring such offenders to justice, ensuring community safety.
The police and court cases serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance, proper support for victims, and the judiciary’s role in delivering justice for those who endure such horrific acts.
