Schoolboy jailed for raping Austrian woman on canal towpath will out in TWO years
A SCHOOLBOY has been jailed for raping an Austrian woman as she walked along a canal towpath is likely to be back on the streets in a little over TWO years.
15-year-old Jake Hart has been jailed for raping and assaulting a 20-year-old woman
Jake Hart, 15, targeted his 20-year-old victim - who had come to the UK to work - on December 10 last year.
Hart, from the village of Melling, Merseyside, admitted rape and assault causing actual bodily harm and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.
Despite being assessed as a "dangerous offender" he is likely to be back on the streets, on licence, in a little over two years.
Liverpool Crown Court heard his victim feared for her life.
Judge Robert Warnock said: "You carried out a horrifying attack on a totally innocent visitor to this country.
"You repeatedly struck her, you caused her serious physical injury, you raped her.
"She was undoubtedly psychologically damaged in the extreme."
The schoolboy was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court
The victim was on Brewery Lane, Melling, was taking photographs of a flooded field when she was grabbed from behind by Hart.
You repeatedly struck her, you caused her serious physical injury, you raped her
Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, said the woman tried to run away but was punched several times and when she screamed, he punched her in the eye.
Hart demanded she carry out a sex act and when the victim refused, he raped her.
When he had finished, Hart insisted on walking her to the road, where she managed to flee and flag down a man in a car saying: "Help me, help me."
The man followed Hart in his car but he escaped over a field.
DNA evidence was recovered and enquiries led police to the defendant's address the next day.
Hart attacked the Australian woman and demanded she perform a sex act before raping her
Police said he showed "no emotion" when he was arrested.
The victim told the court she was afraid she would die.
She said she had given up her job and returned home, where she suffers flashbacks, anxiety and cannot go out alone for fear of attack.
Sharon Watson, defending, accepted that Hart had been assessed by two experts as a dangerous offender.
Police report that the schoolboy showed 'no emotion' when he was arrested
She said: "He is unable, it seems, to articulate the reasons he committed the offence, although to his credit he has been able to accept responsibility."
Ms Watson said the boy had shown remorse and was supported by his parents, who wanted him to get help.
Judge Warnock handed him an extended four years on licence when he is released.
Following an application by the Liverpool Echo, he agreed to lift reporting restrictions so Hart could be named.