Heavy Sentence For Teen Rapist

The judge in a rape case at Dublin's Central Criminal Court has said that "the only safe course" was to ensure the accused wouldn't commit the same crimes again within weeks of being released was to impose a life sentence.

He was speaking at the conclusion of the case against a teenager who broke into two women's homes within weeks and sexually assaulted them, carrying a knife on one occasion and threatening to kill the woman.

William Taylor (18), of Fieries, Farranfore, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of the first woman on July 30, 2006, and three further charges in relation to sexually assaulting the second victim on September 24, while using a knife and threatening to kill her on the same occasion.

He has been jailed for 11 years.

The judge said that in imposing sentence he was taking into account that the DPP wasn't seeking life and also Taylor's age, previous good character and guilty pleas.

He also said that he also noted judgements that a person could not be deprived of liberty merely on the apprehension that he or she might commit a crime in the future.

He said that the appropriate sentence for the July 30 aggravated sexual assault offence was eight years, before discounting the mitigating factors in Taylor's favour which he was bound to take into consideration, so that the sentence in this matter would be six years.

Judge Carney said that having regard to the fact that just over seven weeks later, Taylor attacked another woman using a knife and with "a credible threat to kill", the appropriate sentence in the absence of life imprisonment was 15 years.

He said that discounting all the mitigating factors as outlined, he imposed 10 years for the threat to kill and 11 years for the aggravated sexual assault.

All the sentences are to run concurrently and Taylor is also to undergo 10 years post-release supervision.

(BMcC/JM)