BILLY CRAVEN FROM CHAPELFIELDS JAILED FOR HORRIFIC NEW YEAR SEX ATTACK IN YORK

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Billy Craven, a 26-year-old resident of Marston Avenue in Chapelfields, was sentenced to life imprisonment following a brutal and degrading sexual assault that took place during the early hours of New Year’s Day in York.

Craven, who is a chef by profession, had a troubling criminal history prior to this incident. He was already convicted of sexually abusing two young children, including a case of rape. The court was warned that if he were to be released, there was a significant risk he could reoffend, potentially with deadly consequences. The judge overseeing the case, Judge Stephen Ashurst, explicitly stated that Craven’s disturbed personality and history of sexual misconduct rendered him a danger to the public.

The assault occurred after Craven had been out with colleagues following their New Year’s Eve shift. Despite warnings from two colleagues about his inappropriate sexual overtures towards their partners, Craven continued his unwanted advances. After leaving his colleagues at approximately 3:45 am, he wandered through the streets near his mother’s residence in Chapelfields. It was during this time that he encountered a woman who was returning home from celebrating the New Year.

According to the prosecution, led by Alan Mitcheson, Craven pulled the woman backwards and then launched a violent attack, raining blows upon her face and head until she lost consciousness. The assault was particularly brutal, with Craven dragging her between two parked cars, partially stripping her, and attempting to rape her while continuing to punch her repeatedly. Over a span of about 20 minutes, he struck her nearly 30 times. The attack only ceased when a passer-by called the police, prompting Craven to flee the scene, covered in her blood. The victim was left lying on the ground, suffering from hypothermia when she was eventually discovered approximately 30 minutes later.

The severity of her injuries was highlighted during the court proceedings. The judge described her injuries as so severe that she was almost unrecognizable, with multiple fractures to her bones. The entire assault was captured on CCTV footage, which the judge described as one of the most harrowing pieces of footage he had ever seen. The footage showed the brutality of the attack in stark detail, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present in the courtroom.

Following his escape, Craven later visited York Hospital claiming to have been robbed. However, medical examination revealed only grazed knuckles, indicating he had sustained minor injuries during his flight. Police quickly identified him as the suspect after finding his party hat and rucksack at the scene of the crime. During police interviews, Craven admitted to his guilt, although it was noted that the injuries he inflicted were not life-threatening and that he had not planned the attack.

In sentencing, Judge Ashurst emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating that the sexual violence was self-evidently degrading and that the brutality placed the case into an exceptionally serious category. Craven was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of five years and seven months before parole could be considered. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was banned from working with children. The court’s decision reflects the severity of the attack and the ongoing threat Craven poses to society, especially given his criminal background and the nature of this assault.