Andy Anokye, a Tottenham Rapist and grime artist, previously sentenced to 24 years for the imprisonment and repeated rape of four women, has had his sentence augmented by six years.
Solo 45, whose real name is Andy Anokye, was convicted of 21 counts of rape, five acts of false imprisonment, two counts of assault by penetration, and two counts of actual bodily injury at Bristol Crown Court last July.
Subsequent to a hearing, the Court of Appeal has determined that his original sentence was “unduly lenient,” and he will now serve 30 years in prison for the 30 offences committed during a two-year span.
Andy Anokye was additionally granted a five-year extension of his licence to signify the gravity of his offences.
Following the verdict issued by three senior judges, Solicitor General Michael Ellis QC described Andy Anokye’s conduct as “truly shocking.”
Mr Ellis stated that the court’s ruling to augment the term acknowledged “the gravity of the abuse [Andy Anokye] perpetrated against his victims and the threat he represents to the public.”
Demands for Andy Anokye to receive a life sentence were dismissed.
During the trial, the jury learnt that the musician obtained sexual gratification from torturing women through waterboarding, interrogation, assault, and rape.
The court was informed that Andy Anokye compelled one lady to submerge in icy water, threatened another with a shotgun to her head, pressed a bleach-soaked cloth on a woman’s cheeks, and shoved a mobile phone into a woman’s throat.
Graphic footage recorded by Andy Anokye on his mobile device, depicting his abuse of several women, was presented to the jury as evidence.
The 33-year-old had claimed it was consensual role play, or a game he played called “catch me, rape me”. He said he had told the women that he would “terrorise” them.
Andy Anokye, who is from London but had a harbourside apartment in Bristol, told the court during evidence that he had dacryphilia – sexual arousal from tears and sobbing.
Andy Anokye was part of grime collective Boy Better Know, signed to record label Island Records, and had collaborated with the likes of Stormzy, JME and Wiley.
When passing his original sentence last summer, Judge William Hart told Andy Anokye he had “no sexual boundaries or empathy for those concerned”.
He said the rapper, who had a background of gang associations and criminal violence, “became addicted” to the “perverted pleasure” he gained from abusing his victims and that none of his fellow musicians knew about his “dark side”.
He said Andy Anokye’s conviction had deprived him of a “flourishing career”, but he had only himself to blame.
Avon and Somerset Police first began investigating him in 2017, after a woman reported being raped by him.
Following the discovery of the video footage on Andy Anokye’s phone, three further women came forward to the police.
A fifth woman also gave evidence against him, but her allegation could not be prosecuted as it happened abroad.
Andy Anokye will only be released from prison after serving at least 20 years of his 30-year jail term behind bars, and when the Parole Board is satisfied he no longer poses a danger to the public.
Speaking after the ruling, the Crown Prosecution Service’s Jill Macnamara said she welcomed the increased sentence and hoped it would give victims of rape and sexual assault confidence in police powers to investigate, charge and prosecute cases reported to them.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the people highlighted on this website, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report to Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.