RAS DIAMOND JNR

Ras Diamond Jnr was convicted following a trial held at Leeds Crown Court.

The 27-year-old, who has represented the Turks and Caicos Islands internationally and played for football clubs including Selby Town FC, Harrogate Railway FC, and Yorkshire Amateur AFC, received a custodial sentence this week.

During the proceedings, an impact statement from the victim was read aloud by prosecutor Catherine Duffy.

In her statement, she described the cross-examination process as "traumatising" and revealed that she has experienced numerous nightmares since the incident, often reliving the traumatic event.

She expressed her fear of smiling at strangers in public, worried about how she might be perceived.

Diamond Jnr, residing at the Echo Central Two complex in central Leeds, was out socialising in June of the previous year.

He met the woman among friends in a bar on Greek Street.

The group visited multiple venues before choosing to take an Uber to a flat in the Hyde Park area.

Once inside the flat, the woman went to the bathroom but was followed by Diamond Jnr.

In the bathroom, he removed her underwear and his own.

The court was told she explicitly indicated she did not consent to sexual activity, but he dismissed her protests, assuring her it would be okay.

The victim described Diamond Jnr as "forceful and powerful." The jury unanimously convicted him of rape and assault by penetration in a trial held in December last year.

It was also noted that Diamond Jnr had moved from the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2016 seeking a better life and has a young daughter living in Leeds.

The judge, Tahir Khan KC, sentenced him to six years in prison and ordered that he be registered as a sex offender for life.