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Wales Online
National
Stephen Pitts

Teenager raped woman after badly beating man she was on first date with

A vicious teenager raped a woman after beating a man she was on a first date unconscious. Vile Sean Robinson told his victim, "if you come and have sex with me I will not kill him."

Robinson, just 17 at the time, has been jailed for the relentless attack in which he threatened the female victim with killing her companion if she didn't do what he said, with a prosecutor telling a court, "She decided, in order to save his life and protect herself, she would have to agree to have sex with him".

Chronicle Live reports that the man and woman were walking home from an enjoyable first date night in Sunderland when Robinson ambushed the pair and savagely attacked the man in an onslaught which left him covered in blood. Robinson, now aged 18, then forced the woman into some bushes, telling her to "stop crying like a baby" while he raped her. Newcastle Crown Court heard Robinson told the victim, "If you come and have sex with me I will not kill him".

The defendant pleaded guilty to rape and assault, with the court hearing the "abominable" ordeal had left both victims deeply traumatised. Jane Waugh, prosecuting, told the court the victim, who is in her 20s, had been out on a first date in Sunderland in the summer of 2021 and the two were walking home afterwards when two lads they didn't know came up behind them and started shouting.

Robinson, then "launched himself" at the man in an unprovoked attack, punching him several times. The victim told him, "Mate I don't want to fight" and he and the woman tried to get away from the scene close to Sunderland University. But Robinson chased after the pair, punching the man to the ground.

The woman tried to pull him off the victim as he lay on the ground being kicked by the teenager. When he stopped kicking him, the victim got up and he and the woman began running away.

Ms Waugh added: "(The man) was exhausted and bleeding and (the woman) describes almost carrying him.

"The next thing she was aware of, the defendant had caught up with them and began attacking him again and was kicking him in the head when he was down. The woman was beside herself because she was unable to stop the relentless attack. She said she would do anything if he would stop beating (the man), who was barely conscious."

Robinson replied: "If you come and have sex with me I will not kill him". The injured man said "please don't touch her", at which point Robinson kicked him in the face, knocking him out.

Miss Waugh said: "(The woman) had witnessed the horrific, senseless violence and knew what he was capable of and she decided, in order to save his life and protect herself, she would have to agree to have sex with him so he would leave (the man) alone."

Robinson, of Halesworth Road, Sunderland, took the woman to some bushes, made her lie on an old coat he had found and raped her. When she stated crying, he said, "If you stop I will go and kill him you know." When she continued to cry he said, "Shut up and stop being a baby".

He then said he was going to get the man again but added that he would leave him alone if she went to his home, bizarrely asking if she was his girlfriend now. The man was still lying unconscious and covered in blood and the woman managed to text and ring her mum asking for help. Her parents headed to the scene and called police while keeping their daughter on the phone.

When they got there and her dad asked who had attacked her, Robinson said "It was f****** me, what you going to do about it" and they tried to hit each other.

The woman was left deeply traumatised and said in a victim impact statement: "I've become a prisoner in my own head, reliving the ordeal. Every day that has gone by his grip has tightened around me to the point I can barely breathe.

"I believe even in prison he had a hold over me. On the day I was told he had pleaded guilty to raping me I just wanted to cry and cry. Me and my family will never be the same again. I hope, over time, we can rebuild our lives."

Her companion, who didn't realise the woman had been raped until later, suffered swelling, bruising and soreness. He said in his victim statement the date of the attack should have been a memorable one as it was his first meeting with the woman and they had planned to see each other again.

But he added: "This date is etched into my memory for all the wrong reasons. While walking home we were brutally attacked without reason.

"I tried to defend myself and (the woman) the best I could but the male overpowered me. The last memory I have of this is waking up dazed and seeing a male standing over me and a look of terror on her face.

"At the time I didn't know what had happened but have since found out she was raped. The feeling of guilt has persisted. I forever wish I could have helped her."

Robinson, who had not previously been in trouble, admitted rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was locked up for five years, of which he must serve two-thirds in custody, with an extended licence period of a further three years. He must also sign the sex offenders register for life and was given a lifelong restraining order.

Judge Stephen Earl told him: "This was an abominable offence, unprovoked, unwanted attention and the consequences have been absolutely catastrophic for those subjected to it."

Lorraine Mustard, defending, said Robinson understands the trauma he caused that day, is remorseful for it and added: "He accepts he's ruined their lives." Miss Mustard said Robinson had a difficult childhood and spent time in the care system but has "hope" for a better future.

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