ROBERT ENGLISH

NORWICH HANDYMAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR KIDNAPPING AND RAPE OF YOUNG WOMAN

Adam Gretton A 58-year-old Norwich handyman, Robert English, was today jailed for life after abducting and raping a 21-year-old woman in Brandon.

English targeted his victim in a well-planned attack after asking her for help with loading her shopping into his vehicle.

He then pulled out a knife and forced her into his car, driving her approximately 20 miles to a mobile home in Hockwold where he raped her and forced her to perform sex acts.

English, a man previously of good character and a water bailiff, pleaded guilty to kidnap, false imprisonment, sexual assault, assault by penetration, and two counts of rape.

The judge sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of seven years and ordered him to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

The court acknowledged his previous good character, but condemned his actions as taking advantage of his victim in a frightening kidnapping and sexual assault, describing his conduct as driven by depravity.

English was also noted to have given no explanation for his crimes, and the investigation involved extensive police efforts, including CCTV footage and public appeals, which ultimately led to his arrest and conviction.