Man jailed for raping woman, 86

Man jailed for raping woman, 86, at Bradford care home
Dale Boocock
Boocock was told he is likely to serve much longer than the minimum term

A 19-year-old man has been given an indeterminate jail sentence for the kidnap and rape of an 86-year-old woman in a Bradford care home.

A judge at Bradford Crown Court told Dale Boocock, from the Woodside area of the city, his crime was "appalling".

Boocock, who admitted rape and kidnap, was told he would serve a minimum of four years and nine months.

The elderly woman was assaulted at a home in the Buttershaw area of Bradford in the early hours of 15 September.

She needed hospital treatment at the time of the attack and has since died of natural causes.

The court heard Boocock had been on bail for a series of house burglaries at the time of the attack.


"Whatever the cause of death was, her prognosis deteriorated rapidly as a result of what you did that night and she died two months later" Recorder Colin Burn

The judge, Recorder Colin Burn, said Boocock would probably serve "very much longer" than the minimum sentence.

He said the defendant posed a significant risk to the public, particularly vulnerable people.

He told him: "You were released on police bail for September 13 matters and you went on to commit other offences of rape and kidnap, perpetrated against an elderly, infirm and extremely vulnerable victim living in nursing accommodation.

"You had no thought for her whatsoever. You forcibly removed her from her bed, you dragged her outside at night into the garden, causing her injury, and you raped her outside, leaving her in dreadful distress and unrest on the ground.

"I have no doubt that, whatever the eventual cause of death was, her prognosis deteriorated rapidly as a result of what you did that night and she died two months later."

'Beyond belief'

Det Ch Insp Jon Hoyle, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "Dale Boocock has been sentenced to imprisonment after pleading guilty to the kidnap and rape of an 86-year-old lady, the circumstances of which can only be described as vile and beyond belief.

"The only consolation I can offer the family is that Boocock was arrested soon after the offence and has been dealt with by the courts quickly and he will remain in prison for a very long time.

"However, this will never make up for the loss of a wife, a mother, a grandmother, great grandmother and friend, after she tragically passed away just seven weeks after the incident.

"During my short involvement with this family it became apparent that she was a very special person to many."

Anchor Homes, which owns the Bradford care home, welcomed Boocock's sentence.

Area manager Louise Gibson said: "Following the attack, we organised counselling sessions for staff at the home and we extended this help to residents.

"We spoke to the next of kin of every resident, offering them support and reassurance and the opportunity of individual meetings with them, and we are continuing to do so."

original story: BBC Wprld news
Wednesday, 3 February 2010