The Cannock and Walsall Rapists, Levi Stephen Lee and Othie Danny Lee have received prison sentences for coercing a frightened 15-year-old girl into an alleyway in Appleby and sexually assaulting her.
Levi Stephen Lee, 18, and Othie Danny Lee, 19, have exhibited no contrition for their heinous offence, perpetrated in plain sight in 2019, during their visit to the town for the Appleby Horse Fair.
During sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge Ian Unsworth KC juxtaposed the offenders’ cowardice with the victim’s bravery, who has pledged not to let the incident to define her.
The two defendants, Levi Stephen Lee and Othie Danny Lee, ages 14 and 15 at the time of the rape, were each sentenced to five years and four months in prison. They refuted the allegations of raping the girl but were found guilty following a three-week trial.
In court today, Judge Unsworth told the defendants: “It is plain that this was a terrifying ordeal for [the victim]. ..She was no match for the two of you. You were both larger and stronger than her.”
Having observed both defendants, Levi Stephen Lee and Othie Danny Lee, during the trial, said the judge, they had provided not even a hint of self-reflection or remorse.
“You engaged in victim blaming,” said the judge. “I have no doubt that you put your heads together to create a wholly dishonest version of events which you tried to put before the jury…
“You are each without shame; you are each without remorse.” The judge spoke of the victim’s description of how the double rape had turned her life upside down.
She became suspicious of males, viewing them as a threat; and her sleep was badly affected. “She had to sleep with the light on and this went on for two years after she was raped, said the judge.
Incredibly, as a result of her ordeal, she was subjected to bullying – behaviour for which those responsible should feel thoroughly ashamed, said the judge.
Judge Unsworth quoted from the victim’s impact statement.
The girl had said of the defendants, Levi Stephen Lee and Othie Danny Lee: “My message to both of you is that you raped me on that day but it will no define me as a person. I have turned a corner in my life; and I am coming out of my shell.”
Despite the young woman’s resilience, she did suffer severe psychological harm, ruled the judge. “She is a remarkably brave young woman, whose bravery contrasts with your utter cowardice,” the judge told the defendants.
Earlier, the court heard how the girl’s ordeal began when Levi Stephen Lee grabbed her by the hand and was then “dragged” and “frogmarched” along the street, over a bridge, and into an alleyway, away from CCTV cameras.
Othie Danny Lee had quickly followed.
While in the alleyway the two teenagers had taken it in turns to rape the girl, while the other acted as lookout. She was treated like an “object”, passed between the defendants to satisfy their sexual needs, observed the judge.
“She manifestly did not consent,” said the judge. The girl later told her mum she was scared of the two teenagers, and feared that they may have a knife and would possibly kill her.
Both defendants, Levi Stephen Lee and Othie Danny Lee, will be on the Sex Offender Register indefinitely. They must serve at least two thirds of their sentence before they will be eligible to apply for release on parole.
Neither Othie Danny Lee, of New Street, Bridgetown, Cannock, who now works as a gardener, or Levi Stephen Lee, a roofer, of Willenhall Lane, Walsall, had shown any victim empathy, the court heard. Defence barristers for both men highlighted their immaturity at the time of the offences.
After the defendants, Levi Stephen Lee and Othie Danny Lee, were led away to begin their sentences, Judge Unsworth commended the professionalism and thoroughness of the police officers involved in what turned out to be a “highly sensitive” and “complex” investigation, singling out Sergeant Michael Gilsenan for particular praise.
- When defendants commit offences as juveniles, as in this case, judges are legally obliged to impose sentences which are approximately half of what would have been imposed had the defendants been adult when they offended.
In this case, Judge Unsworth had determined an adult equivalent sentence of 11 years custody, bearing in mind aggravating and mitigating factors.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.