'Sadistic' man who raped grandmother at knifepoint in 'horrendous' attack jailed for life

A “sadistic” man who raped a grandmother at knifepoint has been jailed for life.

Kevin Lemm, 37, attacked the 60-year-old woman as she walked home from an evening in the pub with friends in Castleford, West Yorkshire.

He raped her before using a knife to slash her buttocks and groin, the court was told.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sustained serious and life-changing injuries, according to West Yorkshire Police.

The court heard the attack happened on 3 January this year.

Lemm had also been at a pub in the area with co-workers but had been thrown out for making inappropriate sexualised remarks to a female bar worker.

The victim was walking a short distance to her home at around 11.30pm when Lemm approached her from behind and pushed her to the ground.

The attacker then forced himself on the victim and raped her before turning her over and cutting her back and groin with a Stanley knife, it was heard.

He then robbed the victim, who “didn’t think she would get out alive”, and threatened to kill her if she spoke about what had happened.

The jury was told Lemm “took pleasure” in the attack and “got a kick” out of hurting the woman.

In a victim impact statement read by prosecutor Brian Russell, the woman said she pleaded with Lemm to stop and told him she had grandchildren.

After the attack, the victim attempted to walk home but was stopped by a member of the public who saw she was bleeding before she was rushed to hospital in Leeds for treatment.

Police officers arrested Lemm at his home just hours later, at around 6am on 4 January, when they found the victim's possessions, including her underwear, in his bedroom.

He pleaded guilty to rape, robbery, grievous bodily harm, threatening to kill and possession of a blade, at a hearing last month.

Appearing via video link at Leeds Crown Court today, the defendant was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of nine years.

West Yorkshire Police Detective Chief Inspector Vanessa Rolfe said: “Lemm subjected his victim to a horrendous and sustained attack in which he raped and stabbed her with a knife in what was a frightening and horrific ordeal.

“The victim has been left with life-changing injuries from the horrific attack and is coming to terms with what has happened to her.”

She now suffers from PTSD, flashbacks and panic attacks as a result of the attack. She is also afraid to leave the house without a family member, her impact statement said.

Sentencing Lemm, Judge Tom Bayliss QC described him as a "very dangerous man" capable of "extreme" and "sadistic" violence.