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THE brother of a pregnant teenager who was murdered was today jailed for raping a schoolgirl - overturning a decision by another judge who allowed him to go free.
Luke Grender, 18, was spared jail in January because of the "exceptional circumstances" of his case after his sister was raped and killed.
But the "lenient" decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal after the case was referred by the Attorney General.
Above: Luke Grender
His sister Nikitta Grender, 19, was just two weeks from giving birth when she and her unborn baby were murdered in 2011 by killer Carl Whant - who tried to cover his tracks by burning down her house.
Whant was jailed for life with a minimum of 35 years and was also found guilty of raping Nikitta.
Newport Crown Court heard at the time the impact of his sister's death "twisted the thinking" of Grender.
Above: Nikitta Grender
The Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC asked appeal judges to look into the case and the Court of Appeal ruled the original sentence was "unduly lenient".
Luke Grender was sentenced to three years in a young offenders institute after admitting three counts of rape on the schoolgirl.
Prosecutor John Lloyd said that Grender raped his victim - who was under the age of 13 - three times when he was 16 or 17.
Mr Lloyd 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."
Above: Carl Whant
Mr Lloyd said Grender raped the girl on another occasion after "pinching and punching her".
"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."
Speaking of the impact on Grender's victim, Mr Lloyd added: "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'."
James Tucker, defending, said: "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."
Above: Luke Grender
At the original sentencing hearing Grender cried in the dock at Newport Crown Court as Judge Philip Richards told him he could be spared prison with a suspended jail term because the circumstances were "quite exceptional by any standards."
Judge Richards added: "You must not think you are getting away with it. Your conduct towards this young girl was entirely unacceptable.
"It is likely she will have appalling reflections on this ordeal for the rest of her life.
He added: "You and your family have undergone more heartbreak than nearly any other family in the context of the work we undergo.
"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."
Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Teen-rapist-pregnant-sister-raped-murdered-jailed/story-28926133-detail/story.html#ixzz44ZXuy1cM
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