‘Leeds pensioner tied up, robbed and raped in her own home’

A court heard the 68-year-old woman was told she would be killed if she tried to scream or do anything during the alleged attack at her home in the Armley area of Leeds.

Tremayne Gaskell, 45, is on trial at Leeds Crown Court where he pleads not guilty to two offences of rape and one of robbery.

The jury heard the woman had tape placed over her mouth and her wrists were bound during the alleged incident on February 4 this year.

The prosecution claims Gaskell attacked the woman when he offered to drop her off at her home after they had met in a pub.

Kitty Taylor, prosecuting, said the woman had been to play bingo with her sister earlier in the afternoon and they then went for a drink at the pub in Leeds city centre to meet her sister’s husband.

The court heard Gaskell began talking to the woman in the pub, telling her his name was Tony, before sitting with them.

The woman’s sister left with her husband around 8pm but she stayed and continued talking to Gaskell.

Miss Taylor described the alleged victim as a “trusting and vulnerable lady”.

The prosecutor said the woman agreed to get a taxi with Gaskell, believing she would be dropped off at home.

The court heard Gaskell got out of the taxi with the woman when they got near to her home and he failed to pay the driver.

He then asked if he could go with her as the taxi driver would come looking for him.

Miss Taylor said Gaskell followed the woman inside and locked the door as soon as he got inside the property. Miss Taylor said: “He pointed a knife at her and threatened to kill her if she said anything or screamed.”

The court heard Gaskell ordered the women to remove her clothes and took her gold rings and earrings before using a roll of black tape to bond her wrists and cover her mouth.

Miss Taylor said the woman was subjected to sex attacks and kept in the property until around 10am the following morning before Gaskell left.

Police were contacted and Gaskell, of Springwell view, Holbeck, Leeds was arrested two days later in Leeds city centre.

He denied robbing or raping the woman, claiming sexual contact was consensual.

Miss Taylor told the jury: “The prosecution say this defendant targeted a vulnerable woman in order to rob and rape her and used threats of violence to her in her own home.” She added: “The prosecution case is that he had formed an intention to harm her.

Proceeding.