A 28-year-old man from Radcliffe who stalked a woman, subjected her to repeated sexual assaults, and mocked her during attacks has been sentenced to ten years and six months’ imprisonment.
Ainsley France, of Lever Street, Radcliffe, appeared for sentence following a Crown Court trial where he was convicted across an indictment detailing sustained sexual violence and coercive control.
The court heard that France engaged in a persistent campaign of stalking, following the female victim in public spaces while she was accompanied by friends and family. The offending escalated to multiple sexual assaults and rapes. When the complainant demanded that he stop, France persisted with the violations and verbally ridiculed her. Detectives from Bury CID gathered extensive corroborating material demonstrating that France also belittled the woman through verbal abuse and systematically attempted to restrict her communication with her social network.
Under the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, all victims of sexual offences are entitled to automatic, lifelong statutory anonymity from the moment an allegation is made. Publishing, broadcasting, or disseminating any details, names, addresses, or images that could lead to the public identification of the complainant is strictly prohibited under UK law.
France was found guilty of:
Two counts of rape
Sexual assault
Connected offences relating to stalking and controlling behaviour
The judge handed down an immediate determinate custodial sentence of ten years and six months’ imprisonment. Under current UK statutory sentencing rules governing determinate sentences for serious sexual offences carrying terms of this length, France will be required to serve at least two-thirds of the sentence in prison custody before the Parole Board will consider him for conditional release on licence under probation supervision.
Alongside the custodial sentence, the court ordered:
Mandatory lifetime notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register under the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Associated protective orders barring any direct or indirect contact with the victim upon release
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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