SIMON GLENN OF YORK SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN YORK
In November 2006, the city of York was shaken by the conviction of Simon Glenn, a man whose heinous crimes have left a lasting impact on his victims and the community at large.Glenn, aged 43 and residing on Glen Avenue in Heworth, York, was found guilty of multiple serious offenses, including the brutal rape of a woman in Trinity Lane, off Micklegate, and the sexual assault of two young girls, both only six years old, during the winter months.
The chilling details of the case revealed that Glenn had threatened his victim with terrifying words, stating, "I’m going to rape you and kill you and throw you off Ouse Bridge." These threats underscored the severity of his actions and the danger he posed to the public.
The court proceedings uncovered that Glenn had a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior, which included the sexual abuse of the two young girls, who had been entrusted to him by their mothers for babysitting.
The assaults occurred on a single evening last winter, and the victims' accounts, along with police investigations, painted a picture of a man with a deeply troubling history.
During the trial at York Crown Court, the prosecution presented evidence that Glenn had been drinking with the rape victim in a local pub on February 24.
He had openly admitted to her that he was "bad through and through" and claimed to have committed acts of rape, murder, and other violent crimes in the past.
Glenn further disclosed that his offending was sometimes frequent, stating that he had raped "once a year" or even "once a week," depending on circumstances.
His victim, unaware of the full extent of his depravity, was left in shock by his confessions.
Following their time in the pub, Glenn led the woman to a secluded, walled area down Trinity Lane, where he physically assaulted her and committed the rape.
The victim later recounted that Glenn had threatened her with the words, "I’m going to rape you and kill you and throw you off Ouse Bridge," a statement that highlighted the terrifying nature of the attack.
The police launched an extensive investigation into the crimes, which included appeals through local media and public warnings urging women to exercise caution during nighttime hours.
It was during this investigation that authorities discovered a copy of a newspaper report about the rape in Glenn’s car after his arrest, linking him directly to the crime.
The two young girls who were assaulted came forward after Glenn was taken into custody.
It was revealed that Glenn had sexually abused them on the same winter evening, exploiting their trust as their mothers had allowed him to babysit.
The court heard that Glenn had manipulated the victims by pretending to be a fellow victim himself, gaining the sympathy of the girls’ mothers and establishing a false sense of trust.
Judge Paul Hoffman, who presided over the case, sentenced Glenn to a total of six years for the rape and an additional two years for each of the sexual assaults.
Recognizing the danger he posed to society, the judge imposed a special 'public protection' order, which effectively means Glenn could be detained indefinitely unless deemed safe for release.
The judge emphasized that Glenn should not be released until all sexual urges are diminished, as he would otherwise remain a significant threat to females of all ages.
Detective Chief Inspector Pat Twiggs, who led the police investigation, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating, "The police are pleased with the indeterminate sentence given to Simon Glenn.
The court has recognized the true danger he poses to members of the public should he remain at large in society.
We hope this judgment provides some form of closure to his victims and that they can now move on with their lives knowing he cannot hurt them or anyone else any further." Throughout the proceedings, Glenn maintained a stoic, expressionless demeanor as he was taken back into custody, where he has remained since his arrest in March.
He pleaded guilty to all charges in July, acknowledging his guilt.
His defense lawyer, Nicholas Barker, argued that Glenn had shown remorse and understood the gravity of his actions, though this did little to mitigate the severity of his sentence.
Glenn was ordered to serve a minimum of three years and 130 days before being considered for parole.
Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and prohibited from working with children, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to society.
