The brother of a pregnant teenager brutally murdered almost five years ago has appeared in court after he admitted the rape of a young girl.
Luke Grender, 18, of Broad Mead Park, Newport , admitted three counts of rape of a girl under 13.
Prosecuting at Newport Crown Court , John Lloyd told the court how Grender had pleaded guilty to the offences carried out on a girl under 13 when he was 16 and 17.
“Warnings from social service officers appointed to the victim went unheeded,” he said.
“The defendant began pestering her for sex. When she refused he threatened to drag her up the stairs.
“When she refused again he did, he took her by the hair and dragged her up the stairs. He pulled down her leggings and intercourse took place.”
'Bruising on the hips and arms were visible'
Mr Lloyd also told the court of a second incident that took place.
“She was fully clothed. The defendant pinched and punched her when she wouldn’t agree. She then took off her clothes under pressure and sexual intercourse took place. Bruising on the hips and arms were visible following the incident.”
Mr Lloyd also summarised a personal statement written by the victim.
He said: “Since this incident she doesn’t feel like a person anymore. She doesn’t trust anyone. She said ‘I want to go out with friends without looking over my shoulder. I want to look forward to the future’.”
In 2011, Grender’s sister Nikitta - who was heavily pregnant and just two weeks away from giving birth - was raped and murdered by Carl Whant who was given a 35 year life sentence for her murder.
James Tucker, defending 18-year-old Grender, told the court how the death of his sister had led to “contortions twisting the thinking of Luke.”
“Your honour will remember a haunting picture five years ago, of the defendant with his parents outside this building as the Super Intendant read out a 35 year life sentence for the killing of his sister,” Mr Tucker said.
“While the empathy or sympathy one may feel is tempered by the seriousness of the offence, one of the contortions twisting the thinking of Luke is that he has ended up in some way blaming himself for being so close to his sister so soon before she was killed.
“There is no indication that outside of this case he has behaved inappropriately to a child. And he has shown respect to both women and girls.”
'Entirely unacceptable'
He added that the “harm done to this adolescent boy” was done shortly before he committed the crimes.
Judge Philip Richards said Grender had been spared an immediate prison sentence on the grounds that the case was “quite exceptional by any standards.”
Addressing a tearful Grender, Judge Richards told him: “You must not think you are getting away with it.
“Your conduct towards this young girl was entirely unacceptable.
“Experience tells us that later in life it becomes much more difficult to live with the way you treated her.
“It is likely she will have appalling reflections on this ordeal for the rest of her life.
“I must emphasise that this sentence does not reduce the seriousness of what you have done.”
'Enormous consequences'
Handing Grender a two year suspended sentence, Judge Richards said: “You and your family have undergone more heartbreak than nearly any other family in the context of the work we undergo.
“I am very aware that you fear a custodial sentence, and I recognise that you would have difficulty sustaining such a sentence.
“There could be enormous consequences should an immediate sentence be imposed.
“And I believe that the reality is that a sentence in the community will offer you more help and protect the public more quickly, than a short prison sentence - that you would struggle to cope with.”
Grender was given a two year sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20.
He will also be listed on the sexual offenders register for 10 years.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/brother-pregnant-teenager-brutally-raped-10740647
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