BIRMINGHAM MAN CONVICTED OF RAPE AFTER THREATENING GIRLS AT GUNPOINT
A gang of armed men, including Tyrone Soloman, laughed as they threatened two girls aged 14 and 15 with a shotgun shortly before the teenagers were raped in a Birmingham house, a jury was told.The prosecutor, Mr.
Michael Burrows, described how Soloman told the younger girl that if she did not have sex with him, he would force her to have sex with the others.
It was alleged that Soloman raped the girl twice while Stephen Walker punched and slapped the 15-year-old before raping her.
Soloman and Walker admitted having sex but claimed both girls consented.
Soloman claimed the girl said she was 16, and Walker said he argued with the 15-year-old, with a brawl resulting in him striking her twice.
All four defendants denied possession of a firearm, with no weapons found by police.
Soloman, aged 20, of Knightstone Avenue, Hockley, Birmingham, along with the other defendants, pleaded not guilty to possessing a firearm with intent.
He also denied conspiracy to commit indecent assault, rape, and assisting an offender.
The court heard that on August 11 last year, the victims and a third girl—also aged 14—were taken to Walker’s home in the early hours.
One girl was held in a bedroom with the defendants and threatened with a shotgun, which was claimed to be loaded.
All four defendants laughed at this, but the girls wanted to leave.
Two girls managed to escape followed by Walker, but the 14-year-old was left alone with three defendants who forced her into sexual acts and partially stripped her.
Soloman then raped her twice after threatening her with further assault.
The 15-year-old girl was pushed into a bathroom by Walker after being prevented from going into the bedroom and subsequently raped after Walker assaulted her and refused her calls for help.
Doctors examined the victims two days later but found no significant injuries.
The trial was ongoing at the time.
