A 14-year-old schoolgirl in Birmingham endured a horrific assault after being lured into a private property while under the influence of alcohol and cannabis. Rhyce Longstaff, 31, invited the girl and her friends to a house in Aston from the city centre, where the girl ultimately lost consciousness.
Longstaff found the unconscious girl alone in an upstairs bedroom and sexually assaulted her multiple times. When she initially woke, he silenced her by covering her mouth to muffle her cries. He then warned her not to tell anyone, claiming she would not be believed.
The attack left the girl deeply traumatised, battling with nightmares, loss of confidence, and even suicidal thoughts, as revealed in court statements. Despite this, she expressed determination that the assault would not define her life.
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Birmingham Crown Court heard that Longstaff has a troubling criminal history, including robbery, affray, and weapon threats. Following a trial, he was convicted of three counts of rape.
Judge Andrew Smith KC described Longstaff as a “dangerous” offender and sentenced him to 16 years in prison, with an additional six years on extended licence. The judge emphasised Longstaff’s lack of remorse and the severe impact of his crimes on the young victim.
Throughout the proceedings, Longstaff appeared via video link from HMP Birmingham and frequently held his head in his hands. His own defense lawyer acknowledged the severity of the case and urged the court for the most lenient sentence possible, given Longstaff’s extensive criminal history and dangerous nature.