TONDERAL CHAKANYUKA JAILED FOR RAPE IN BRADFORD: HORRIFIC CRIME LEAVES FAMILY DEVASTATED

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Bradford, Tonderal Chakanyuka, a 31-year-old man from Canterbury Avenue, was sentenced to ten years in prison for the brutal and drunken rape of a young girl. The incident, which took place in Bradford, has left a lasting scar on the victim and her family, highlighting the devastating consequences of such heinous acts.

According to court proceedings, Chakanyuka admitted to forcing himself upon the girl, who was a virgin at the time, and engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse with her. The court was told that the DNA evidence collected from the scene was instrumental in confirming his guilt, leading to his guilty plea on charges of raping a child under the age of 13. Prosecutor Nikki Peers detailed that Chakanyuka’s confession came after investigators linked him to the crime through forensic evidence.

The young girl, whose identity remains protected, was too frightened to confide in her mother about the assault initially. Instead, she confided in a friend that she had engaged in sexual activity, but she did not disclose the assault itself. As her pregnancy progressed, she began to suspect she might be expecting, especially after feeling movement inside her. She kept her secret hidden from her family for several months, overwhelmed by shame and fear.

The court heard that her mother only discovered her pregnancy when she responded to her daughter’s call for help. Upon going downstairs, she found her daughter lying on the sofa with the baby’s head visible. Shocked and distressed, she immediately called an ambulance. The girl’s mother then delivered her baby on the living room floor at around 4 a.m., with her daughter crying out, “I’m so sorry, Mum.”

Staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary were alerted to the situation and contacted the police after the mother explained what had transpired. A paternity test subsequently confirmed that Chakanyuka was the father of the newborn. He was arrested two days after the birth and, during police interviews, claimed he could not remember having sex with the girl, despite the evidence against him.

Chakanyuka’s legal representative, Abraham Verghese, acknowledged the gravity of the case, describing it as “very, very, serious and disquieting.” He expressed remorse on behalf of his client, stating, “I apologise on his behalf for this dreadful situation that has happened. The lives of several people have been destroyed. It is a most dreadful affair.”

Judge Roger Scott addressed the court, emphasizing the profound impact on the victim. Her victim impact statement revealed she was now unable to attend school or see her friends, and she had become estranged from her mother. The judge also noted that her baby was destined for foster care, adding, “Goodness knows what will happen to him.”

In sentencing, Judge Scott condemned Chakanyuka’s actions, describing the case as aggravated by the fact that the girl became pregnant and her mother had to deliver her grandchild on the living room floor. The judge stated, “The whole thing could not conceivably be worse.”

As part of his sentence, Chakanyuka was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, and an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order was issued against him. He was also permanently barred from working with children. Following the sentencing, the girl’s mother, visibly distressed, expressed her dissatisfaction, stating that she believed the ten-year sentence was insufficient given the severity of the crime.