'Manipulative predator' jailed after raping 16-year-old girl in Leeds while she was intoxicated

Julian Manners, of Louis Street, Chapeltown, was considered a danger to the public and handed an extended sentence totalling 15 years today (Monday) after committing the rape last year.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Manners, 31, got a taxi on July 9 to the Harehills home of a 22-year-old woman, whom he had not met before but had been exchanging messages with on social media.

Prosecutor Timothy Capstick said he brought alcohol to the home where the woman’s sister, the victim, was also staying and poured drinks for them.

Mr Capstick said: “At one point the older sister left the house to be sick and passed out on the couch.”

After the older sister passed out intoxicated, Manners, who appeared via video link from HMP Leeds, continued to ply the 16-year-old with alcohol, tipping her head back to pour drink into her mouth.

The court was told he raped her while she was intoxicated, unable to resist or give consent.

Judge Guy Kearl QC said: “You were asking her what you were going to get for giving her the alcohol.

“She became less and less able to look after herself. When she was completely unable to offer resistance signal consent, you raped her as she passed in and out of consciousness.”

In a victim impact statement, the 16-year-old described how she now suffers with anxiety, depression and nightmares.

Susannah Proctor, mitigating, said: "He does accept that he took advantage of the victim. It was not planned, prolonged and involved no form of violence.” .

Manners committed the rape while on licence for an offence in 2013 of sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl, the court heard.

He was living with his grandmother at the time of the offence last year and was arrested on July 20 but initially denied the offence.

The court was told Manners pleaded guilty during the trial on January 10 to rape involving a 16-year-old child.

Passing sentence, Judge Kearl said: "By your behaviour of attending at a property where there were two females, whom you had never met, plying them with alcohol and then having intercourse with one of them aged 16 - when she was incapable of resisting or compliance - indicates a reckless, risk-taking, manipulative and predatory behaviour."

He added: “You are in my judgement, given all that I know about you, a high-risk to both the public and children.”

Judge Kearl said Manners must serve a custodial sentence of nine years, followed by an extended period on licence for six years.

He will also be made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention order.