JAKE CASEY ROCHDALE HORRIFIC RAPE ATTACK LEADS TO 12-YEAR SENTENCE
In January 2021, a woman endured a terrifying and traumatic assault while walking to a 24-hour supermarket in Rochdale.The incident, which took place in the early hours, resulted in a lengthy prison sentence for the perpetrator, Jake Casey, aged 23.
The court proceedings revealed the harrowing details of the attack, highlighting the severity of the crime and its lasting impact on the victim.
According to court reports, the victim was simply on her way to purchase essentials when Casey approached her.
He initially complimented her, telling her she was 'beautiful,' and then asked for a 'hug,' which he proceeded to block her path to enforce.
The court heard that at first, the woman believed Casey to be a troublesome drunk, but his persistent behavior soon escalated the situation.
To placate him, she reluctantly gave him a hug, but this did not stop his aggressive actions.
Casey then put his arm around her neck, causing her to struggle for breath.
Witnesses and court testimony indicated that he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time.
During the assault, Casey bit her nose and uttered threatening words, including, 'do what you are told you f****** slag.' The judge, Bernadette Baxter, described the victim's state as one of complete terror, stating, 'She was completely terrified and thought you were going to bite her nose off.' The attack, which lasted approximately ten minutes, culminated in Casey raping the woman.
Following the assault, Casey claimed he was only 15 years old and warned her that reporting the incident could lead to her getting into trouble because she was the adult.
Prosecutor Geoff Whelan explained that Casey made her swear not to tell anyone, warning her, 'better not tell anyone because he would kill her then and there,' and adding, 'you don’t even want to see the knife in my pocket.' Further adding to her distress, Casey told her he was 'coming back to her home with her,' which the judge noted increased her terror and anxiety.
Despite her ordeal, the victim managed to summon the presence of mind to inform Casey that she still needed to go to the shops.
Once at the supermarket, she went into the toilets and contacted the police for help.
Casey, who was found to have no fixed address, was arrested shortly after the incident.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges but was ultimately convicted by a jury on multiple counts: two counts of rape, one count of inciting someone to engage in sexual activity, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of assault by penetration.
The severity of these offenses was acknowledged by the court, with Judge Baxter emphasizing that such crimes warrant immediate and substantial custodial sentences.
The victim has since reported suffering from nightmares and panic attacks as a result of her ordeal.
During the sentencing hearing, Casey's defense attorney, Andrea Lock, argued that he was 'extremely immature' and had experienced bouts of depression following the death of his mother.
Despite these mitigating factors, Judge Baxter sentenced Casey to 12 years in prison—nine years of actual custody and an extended three-year license period—declaring him a dangerous offender and emphasizing the need for a strong custodial response to such serious crimes.
