TEEN RAPIST SENTENCED TO 3.5 YEARS IN PRISON IN CORNWALL
A 17-year-old boy raped a woman after she refused his advances, a court has heard.Reece Webber, now 23, carried out the "utterly unforgiveable" act in Cornwall in 2019.
Webber, of Oak Way, Truro, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence today (Friday, February 20) after being found guilty by a jury on January 14 of raping a woman over the age of 16.
The court heard Webber's victim rejected his advances and despite this he went ahead and when she "begged him to stop" he did not, the judge in the case said.
Representing Webber, Rupert Taylor stressed the defendant was just 17 at the time and suggested the offence was a "youthful mistake".
He said the defendant was of good character before and after the offence, now has a partner and three children and has not offended since the incident.
His Honour Judge Simon Carr, however, said the offence goes beyond a "youthful mistake".
He told Webber that his victim "made it perfectly clear in terms that could not have been confusing".
He said: "You could be under no illusion about her position.
She begged you to stop.
You continued." The judge added: "The effects on the victim have been absolutely devastating, both physically and psychologically.
I have no doubt you will live with the consequences of your actions for the rest of your life." The judge accepted the "appalling delay" bringing the case for sentence and noted it had placed further pressure on both the victim and the defendant.
He also took both Webber's age and otherwise "impeccable character" into consideration.
Webber was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and placed on the sex offenders register for life.
