A 12-year jail sentence was meted out to a man from Middlesbrough for luring a teenage girl to his home and then repeatedly sexually abusing her.
On Wednesday, April 17, Dwayne Anthony Rhoden, 34, of Union Street, Middlesbrough, was sentenced at York Crown Court. Detectives commended the adolescent girl for having the guts to come forward and report Rhoden’s offences.
Rhoden was convicted on nine counts, including five counts of rape, two instances of sexual assault by penetration, sexual assault, and wrongful imprisonment, after a trial in January.
As a Registered Sex Offender, he entered a guilty plea to the eleventh offence of disobeying change of address notifications.
Rhoden was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in addition to the prison sentence, which included an additional three years of parole.
According to testimony given in court, the event occurred at a Whitby house in August 2023. The victim’s companion reported to police, via 999 call, that a man had sexually abused her friend.
After that, the girl was put on the phone and told the Force Control Room the first details of her horrifying experience.
Detective Constable Matthew Edwards of the Scarborough and Ryedale Safeguarding Investigation Team initiated the investigation.
He managed to prove that, having met her in town some thirty minutes earlier, Rhoden had enticed the adolescent to a bedsit he was renting.
After almost an hour, the adolescent was finally allowed to leave the address. She called some friends, who assisted her in calling the police.
At 2:42 in the morning, Rhoden was apprehended at the bedsit and placed under arrest to be questioned.
After then, he was accused of the ten charges.
According to DC Edwards, she was violently attacked as soon as she entered the room he was renting. He overcame her after grabbing her by the back of the neck and pushing her into a bed.
“She was the victim of a vicious, long-lasting, and horrifyingly brutal sexual attack by Roden.
She kept asking him to get off her and let her go, but he would not listen. He wouldn’t let her go from the land.
“She said he threatened to kill her, and she genuinely feared she would die at the hands of Rhoden,” the woman said. “Rhoden was clearly taking pleasure in her extreme pain and distress.”
In addition, DC Edwards stated, “Rhoden forced the victim to relive the horrific events in court in addition to subjecting her to the attack itself.
“He lied during the course of the inquiry and the trial. Despite his pitiful performance, the jury found him guilty of all the charges, and they were right to do so.
The judge’s substantial prison term for him demonstrates the seriousness of the crimes Rhoden committed against the courageous victim.
“I can only express my gratitude and appreciation for her bravery in pursuing justice. From the time the incident is reported until the court case is resolved.In conjunction with a focused and considerate inquiry, she demonstrated that heinous criminals such as Rhoden are unable to continue abhorring women and girls without consequence.
“With the help of her devoted family and friends, I hope she can find strength in the decision made by the court and begin the process of rebuilding her life.”
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