A teenage girl was raped in a city centre alleyway by a predator as his friend kept watch for him.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Ryan Dunning had acted as look-out while 37-year-old Kevin Lloyd ripped off his victim’s clothing and raped her while she was too incapacitated through drink to fight back. Judge Louise Brandon described the incident which happened at 1.40am on March 21 last year, as “every woman’s worst nightmare".
The two defendants were “manipulative and predatory” and added that Dunning “has an unhealthy interest in young women” and is a risk to adults and children. The two men are both convicted paedophiles and were on licence at the time of the rape, and shared the same hostel accommodation in Boundary Street near the city centre.
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Judge Brandon said it was clear to the defendants that the victim was intoxicated and the consequences of the rape for her and her family have been devastating. The girl’s ordeal would have gone undetected if security guard John Burke and passer-by Abdullah Bawarth had not realised what was happening.
Mr Bawarth had seen the men approach the victim and thought they might steal from her. Lloyd walked her into the alley off Parker Street, which runs between Church Street up to Clayton Square, with Dunning remained at the entrance as look-out.
When the two men, who had been monitoring CCTV cameras, saw what was happening to the teenager, they both went to her aid. Lloyd claimed she was his girlfriend and Dunning then helped her out of the alley.
The teenager collapsed on nearby steps and police, called by the security officer, arrived and Lloyd was arrested while Dunning walked away. Simon Christie, prosecuting, said that the victim, who had been to a rave and then various bars, had been struggling to walk through her intoxication.
She recalled meeting the defendants and her next memory was waking up in hospital with her mum telling her she had been sexually assaulted, which she did not believe.
Dunning accepted that when a man appeared saying it was rape he sent his friend a text to alert him. He denied acting as look out.
Lloyd, 38, of Boundary Street, Liverpool, was jailed for ten years with an extended eight year licence after pleading guilty to rape and Ryan Dunning received the same sentence. In addition they were both given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
The judge commended Mr Burke and Mr Bawarth for their public spirited behaviour and awarded them £100 each from public funds.
Mr Christie, prosecuting. said an impact statement from the victim’s mum told how her daughter used to be “the life and soul at any party” and was always socialising with friends. She now stays at home locked in her bedroom and does not like going out alone.
Her relationship with her boyfriend ended because of the strain. She also cut her hair off after the attack “as she didn’t want to be seen as attractive.”
Detective Constables Rebecca Robinson and Loretta Dean, who led the investigation, said: “This was an utterly horrendous attack and we welcome that both Lloyd and Dunning are now behind bars and can no longer cause harm to women. While no sentence can repair the pain and suffering they have caused to their victim, I hope that they will both reflect on his despicable actions while serving this significant jail time.
“I would like to commend the victim for the incredible bravery and courage she has shown throughout the investigation. I would also like to thank the witnesses who contacted police on the night of the incident so that we could arrest Lloyd swiftly.
"The judge presiding over the case has indicated they will both be put forward for commendations. I hope that these sentences will reassure anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that, if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us, we will deal with you sensitively and make sure that your report is properly and thoroughly investigated.
“We have specially trained officers in our dedicated Unity Team who will listen and treat you with sensitivity and compassion. There are also a number of reliable and trusted organisations and charities who will support you throughout – from your initial report, through the court process and beyond."
Detective Constable Rebecca Robinson added: “We are committed to working proactively with our partners across Merseyside to reduce violence against women and girls. For example, we work with our local authorities to make sure that public spaces are safe for women and girls and, in April 2021, we also launched Operation Empower, our proactive policing response to preventing sexual violence in the Night Time Economy. We deploy additional officers, in key locations, who are tasked with identifying potential perpetrators who are displaying signs of predatory behaviour.
“I would encourage anyone with any concerns to seek assistance from bar and door staff, speak to our uniformed officers on the streets, or, like the witnesses in this case, contact police so that we can take swift and immediate action."
You can report a sexual offence allegation by calling 101 where you will be spoken to by specially trained officers or you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always call 999.
Merseyside Police, alongside three other forces, have also been part of a pilot project for a new service to report rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences online – with the option to report anonymously.
If you’ve been affected by sexual violence of any kind, support is available through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service delivered jointly by two registered charities. In Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, support is provided by Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (RASA) Merseyside who are available on 0151 558 1801 and, in St Helens and Knowsley, by the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Cheshire and Merseyside who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063.
For women who have felt or feel unsafe in public spaces the Home Office has set up StreetSafe | Police.uk (www.police.uk) for anyone to anonymously report public places where they have felt or feel unsafe, because of environmental issues, e.g. street lighting, abandoned buildings or vandalism and/or because of some behaviours, e.g. being followed or verbally abused. Please note: 'StreetSafe' is not for reporting crime or incidents.
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