Life sentence imposed on rapist – Usha Shergill prosecuted for the Crown
A life sentence was imposed upon Peter Ramsey by HHJ Ezzat at Harrow Crown Court on 4th September 2024.
The defendant committed a brutal attack on a lone female who was suffering a mental health crisis as she had tried to commit suicide by cutting her hands. Ramsey saw her on the street in a distressed state and befriended her. He took her to his hotel where he raped and strangled her. The strangulation facilitated the defendant being able to overpower the victim. When she tried to put up a fight he repeatedly punched and hit her on the face and body. She had to be sectioned as her trauma was extreme.
The defendant had a previous conviction for a rape in 2012, for which he had served a 12-year sentence, which was a statutory aggravating factor. Other factors included the specific targeting of lone women and offences committed whilst under the influence of alcohol. The defendants’ methodology for subduing the victims in both previous offences was to strangle them and place his hands over their mouths.
The court heard that the defendant presented a very serious risk to the public and the Judge concluded that the defendant was highly dangerous. He found that an extended sentence would not meet the justice of the case as the defendant had offended twice after release from prison in 2021. The Judge was satisfied that there was a very high risk of committing further specified offences and the only appropriate sentence was one of life imprisonment .
