SHREWSBURY JUDGE JAILS NEWCASTLE TEENS FOR RAPE IN OSWESTRY
TWO teenagers who raped a female in Oswestry have been jailed for more than eight years each at Shrewsbury Crown Court.The incident involved Harley King, 19, from Newcastle, and Ben Jennings, 20, from Northumberland.
They were convicted by a jury in June and sentenced recently.
Harley King received an eight-year sentence for two counts of rape and an additional four months for filming the incident.
Ben Jennings was sentenced to six years for assault by penetration, to be served concurrently.
The court heard the victim was a ‘vulnerable’ person who had ‘reluctantly’ agreed to have sex with King, who called Jennings to participate without the victim’s consent.
King filmed the incident.
In her impact statement, she said: “The impact this had had on me is detrimental to me emotionally, so that I couldn’t leave the house for months.
I had nightmares, and struggle to trust.
I started self-harming and developed body dysmorphia.
It made my skin crawl to the point of having panic attacks – I was made to feel disgusting.
I now feel like I have the justice and the clarity I need to rebuild my life.” In mitigation, representatives highlighted their clients' age—King was 17 years and 10 months old, Jennings had just turned 18—and their prior trustworthy reputation.
Judge Laura Hobson stated the conviction was based on strong CCTV footage showing Jennings at the door before the incident and celebrating afterward.
Both will be registered sex offenders for life and are subject to a lifelong restraining order barring contact with the victim.
