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| Charlie Pearce 'marked 17th birthday' with 'animalistic' rape | Charlie Pearce 'marked 17th birthday' with 'animalistic' rape |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A teenager who "marked his 17th birthday" by bludgeoning a woman with a paving slab before raping her has been given a life sentence. | A teenager who "marked his 17th birthday" by bludgeoning a woman with a paving slab before raping her has been given a life sentence. |
| "Animalistic" Charlie John Pearce was found guilty of attempted murder at Leicester Crown Court last year. | "Animalistic" Charlie John Pearce was found guilty of attempted murder at Leicester Crown Court last year. |
| The court heard he had searched the internet for videos showing attacks on "helpless" women before the attack. | The court heard he had searched the internet for videos showing attacks on "helpless" women before the attack. |
| Pearce, who had denied trying to kill the woman but admitted rape, was told he must serve a minimum of 11 years. | Pearce, who had denied trying to kill the woman but admitted rape, was told he must serve a minimum of 11 years. |
| Sentencing at the Old Bailey, Justice Charles Haddon-Cave described Pearce as "exceptionally dangerous" and said he attacked the woman with "animalistic savagery". | Sentencing at the Old Bailey, Justice Charles Haddon-Cave described Pearce as "exceptionally dangerous" and said he attacked the woman with "animalistic savagery". |
| "The defendant set out that evening to mark his 17th birthday to find a woman to rape and violently attack," he said. | "The defendant set out that evening to mark his 17th birthday to find a woman to rape and violently attack," he said. |
| "[The victim] could remember nothing of her ordeal, her life had been hanging on a thread." | "[The victim] could remember nothing of her ordeal, her life had been hanging on a thread." |
| The court heard the attack in Victoria Park in Leicester took place at about 23:35 on 3 July, after Pearce had celebrated his birthday in a pub. | The court heard the attack in Victoria Park in Leicester took place at about 23:35 on 3 July, after Pearce had celebrated his birthday in a pub. |
| Youths nearby witnessed the initial struggle and called 999 but a police patrol could not identify the location, the court heard. | Youths nearby witnessed the initial struggle and called 999 but a police patrol could not identify the location, the court heard. |
| The woman - who cannot be identified - was found with "truly dreadful" injuries about an hour later by a passing cyclist. | The woman - who cannot be identified - was found with "truly dreadful" injuries about an hour later by a passing cyclist. |
| Leicestershire Police released a "remarkably clear" CCTV image of Pearce running towards the woman holding the slab. | Leicestershire Police released a "remarkably clear" CCTV image of Pearce running towards the woman holding the slab. |
| He was recognised by his own family who then contacted police. | |
| Pearce - who could only be named when a court order was lifted - denied intending to kill the woman, but had admitted two counts of rape. | Pearce - who could only be named when a court order was lifted - denied intending to kill the woman, but had admitted two counts of rape. |
| He also admitted causing grievous bodily harm and stealing the woman's handbag which he later burned. | He also admitted causing grievous bodily harm and stealing the woman's handbag which he later burned. |
| Pearce's victim said she has been "mentally and physically scarred" by the attack. | Pearce's victim said she has been "mentally and physically scarred" by the attack. |
| In a victim impact statement read out in court she said she still has bald patches and suffers jaw pain and loss of hearing following the attack. | In a victim impact statement read out in court she said she still has bald patches and suffers jaw pain and loss of hearing following the attack. |
| "I am reminded on a daily basis - and sometimes multiple times a day - of the extensive trauma my body has endured and my mind cannot remember," she said. | "I am reminded on a daily basis - and sometimes multiple times a day - of the extensive trauma my body has endured and my mind cannot remember," she said. |
| "I have had thoughts about hurting myself and ending my life because I feel that I cannot live with the knowledge I have that what happened to me has happened to me." | "I have had thoughts about hurting myself and ending my life because I feel that I cannot live with the knowledge I have that what happened to me has happened to me." |