2015: RAPIST JAILED AFTER STREET ATTACK ON WOMAN
A man convicted of rape left his victim unconscious and partially clothed in an alley after agreeing to escort her home.At Bolton Crown Court, Leon Bent received a sentence of four years and eight months after pleading guilty to oral rape and assault by penetration.
Bent, who was not previously known to his 51-year-old victim, was identified through DNA evidence linking him to the crime.
Prosecutor Virginia Hayton explained that the victim had been celebrating her late grandmother’s birthday on April 23 in pubs around Farnworth.
She estimated consuming about two bottles of wine throughout the day.
Staff at the Wellington pub noted she appeared cheerful and chatty when she left at approximately 12:30 a.m., having been advised to head home.
Later, the victim went to Tasters, a nearby takeaway where Bent, a 25-year-old stranger, was waiting with a pizza he had ordered.
According to Ms.
Hayton, Bent approached her, kissed her, and his actions prompted another customer, Stacey Jones, to joke that Bent was "in for a good night." The woman asked Ms.
Jones to take her home, then separately requested Bent to accompany her.
He agreed but failed to take her to her residence.
CCTV footage showed the pair walking together, with Bent guiding and almost pulling her away, as she tried to head home.
The court heard that Bent raped her, muttering, "You are going to get it." When the woman regained consciousness, she was alone in an alley near the junction of Rawson Street and Park Street, amidst leaves and rubbish.
She managed to reach her home and contacted police.
The victim has since suffered panic attacks and has attempted self-harm, indicating the trauma’s profound impact.
Defense lawyer Iain Simkin highlighted that Bent, who had endured childhood mental health issues and was under the influence of alcohol and amphetamines at the time, wrongly believed the woman consented to sex.
He added Bent did not think his actions were wrong during the incident.
Judge Timothy Clayson, who is the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, noted that Bent’s mental state, together with their behavior in the kebab shop and the effects of drugs and alcohol, created a unique combination that justified a reduced sentence.
Bent will also be registered as a sex offender for life.
Detective Constable Janice Briggs from GMP’s Serious Sexual Offences Unit stated, “This was a heinous assault on a vulnerable woman, who has understandably been left devastated.
We hope that her seeing Bent imprisoned provides her some solace.”
