This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/mid/7650928.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Jail for churchyard rape of girl | |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| A knifeman in fancy dress who raped a 13-year-old girl in a churchyard has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years. | A knifeman in fancy dress who raped a 13-year-old girl in a churchyard has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years. |
| Alexander Meyer, 25, of Sandford on Thames, near Oxford, was also placed on the sex offenders register for life for the attack in Llanidloes, Powys. | |
| he turned off her mobile phone as her father tried to call her and threatened to kill her, Mold Crown Court heard. | |
| Meyer admitted rape and also possessing indecent images of children, which were found on two computers. | Meyer admitted rape and also possessing indecent images of children, which were found on two computers. |
| The court heard that he threatened the girl with a knife during her ordeal in a churchyard shed at an annual fancy dress party in July. | |
| Judge Merfyn Hughes QC sentenced Meyer to seven years for rape and six months for possessing 47 indecent images of children on computers. | |
| He also banned Meyer from ever working with children and described the offender as a significant risk to young girls. | He also banned Meyer from ever working with children and described the offender as a significant risk to young girls. |
| Screamed | Screamed |
| The court was told how Meyer, wearing a bright red dressing gown and slippers, had offered to help the girl when she had become separated from her friends, but he sexually assaulted and then raped her. | The court was told how Meyer, wearing a bright red dressing gown and slippers, had offered to help the girl when she had become separated from her friends, but he sexually assaulted and then raped her. |
| He later told police that she was dressed provocatively. | He later told police that she was dressed provocatively. |
| At the time, Meyer was living near Oxford with his girlfriend, but he returned to his home town of Llanidloes for the annual fancy dress street party in July. | At the time, Meyer was living near Oxford with his girlfriend, but he returned to his home town of Llanidloes for the annual fancy dress street party in July. |
| During her 30-minute ordeal, the girl's father, who was also in Llanidloes, rang her mobile phone but Meyer switched it off and threatened to kill her if she screamed. | During her 30-minute ordeal, the girl's father, who was also in Llanidloes, rang her mobile phone but Meyer switched it off and threatened to kill her if she screamed. |
| Judge Hughes said: "There can be no doubt that she was the unfortunate victim, by chance, of your predatory behaviour, in circumstances in which she was entirely innocent. | Judge Hughes said: "There can be no doubt that she was the unfortunate victim, by chance, of your predatory behaviour, in circumstances in which she was entirely innocent. |
| "You told her that you had a knife and that you would put it across her neck if she screamed. | "You told her that you had a knife and that you would put it across her neck if she screamed. |
| "You also threatened to kill her." | "You also threatened to kill her." |
| The court heard the girl was now receiving counselling, but she was frightened to leave her parents' home. | The court heard the girl was now receiving counselling, but she was frightened to leave her parents' home. |
| She has also been affected by cruel and unfounded rumours that she encouraged the attack, the court was told. | She has also been affected by cruel and unfounded rumours that she encouraged the attack, the court was told. |
| Rhys Rowlands, prosecuting, said: "Nothing could be further from the truth. The crown wish to make it clear that she is a totally innocent victim in every sense of the word." | Rhys Rowlands, prosecuting, said: "Nothing could be further from the truth. The crown wish to make it clear that she is a totally innocent victim in every sense of the word." |
| Duncan Bould, defending, said Meyer, who had no previous convictions, accepted full responsibility for what had occurred and had expressed genuine horror and remorse. | Duncan Bould, defending, said Meyer, who had no previous convictions, accepted full responsibility for what had occurred and had expressed genuine horror and remorse. |