Victim gives evidence in second trial to help jail rapist

A rapist from Leicester has been given an extended prison sentence totalling 25 years, thanks in part to a complainant giving evidence against him for a second time.

Randy Ayor, 22, from Leicester, physically, sexually and emotionally abused three women after starting relationships with them and through encountering them through work.

The first allegation of abuse was from a victim he had met through work. She said he became friendly towards her, helping her with car issues over the weekend, but tricked her into coming back to his flat after a night out with friends. That victim made an allegation of rape and assault, but Ayor was acquitted by a jury.

Within weeks of the acquittal, Ayor abused two further women, switching abruptly from being charming and caring, to being violent. He continued his emotional abuse by controlling what they wore, who they spoke to and refusing to let them get away from him. He forced both victims to have sex with him after assaulting them, using threats of violence and, on one occasion, using strangulation, to make them comply.

When the first victim came forward, the Crown Prosecution Service brought charges against Ayor and asked the court to remand him to protect other women. Unfortunately, while on police bail, Ayor had already abused the second victim, who felt safe to approach the police once her rapist was in custody.

Ayor was, once again, brought before the courts.

Although he had been acquitted of the rape of the first victim, she was able to give her account to a jury again, this time as bad character evidence, as her allegations were so similar to the others.

In April, a jury at Leicester Crown Court convicted Randy Ayor of rape, assault, intentional strangulation, false imprisonment and controlling or coercive behaviour.

He was today sentenced to 22 years, extended by a further three years. 

Charlotte Caulton-Scott, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Randy Ayor is a ruthless predator and a danger to women. He targeted women in vulnerable situations and used charm to deceive them. He manipulated multiple situations to trap his victims, assault them and rape them.

“Despite still being traumatised from their experiences, Ayor’s victims persevered in giving evidence, revealing Ayor as the manipulator he truly is. Although Ayor was acquitted of crimes against her, the extraordinary resolve of the first complainant to give evidence in this trial, contributed to him facing the consequences of his abhorrent crimes. Through the CPS taking every opportunity afforded by the law to demonstrate Ayor’s true character to the jury and the valiant efforts of the first victim to give evidence again, a rapist was finally brought to justice.

“Men who seek to exploit women and abuse them have no place in our society. I hope that by seeing justice done and their rapist jailed, Ayor’s victims will today receive some comfort in their recovery.”

Building the case: Using previous allegations as evidence of bad character

The key evidence used to prosecute Randy Ayor were the accounts of the victims themselves. None of them knew each other, so prosecutors were able to build a strong case demonstrating that this was a recognised pattern of behaviour. All three described clearly an outwardly considerate and charming partner in the very early stages of the relationship, followed by the abrupt switch to violence, controlling behaviour and sexual abuse.

Although Ayor was acquitted of offences against the first complainant, her account described similarities to the allegations made by the two further victims. Although the allegations she made could not be the subject of further charges, because there was no new evidence in her case, the evidence she gave at the trial showed a similar pattern of behaviour, which strengthened the prosecution’s case against Ayor. Her testimony demonstrated he consistently used this behaviour to manipulate women.

The CPS prosecutor in the case asked the victim if she would be willing to give her evidence in the new trial as bad character evidence, which she did. This is evidence that shows where a defendant has behaved in a similar manner to the way the charges describe, which can demonstrate to a jury that the allegations before them are the truth.

The CPS must apply to the court to use bad character evidence. We have to demonstrate that it is relevant to the case and still consistent with giving the defendant a fair trial.

In this case, following a detailed application, the court agreed that this evidence could be used. This provided a level of uncertainty for the victim, as not only did she need to prepare to relive the trauma she suffered at Ayor’s hands once again, but she could not be certain that this would happen until the judge had made a decision about the bad character evidence. Throughout this period of uncertainty, she remained steadfast and was supported through it by the prosecutor, paralegal and police officer in the case.

Once the extent of Ayor’s criminal conduct became clear, as someone who had exploited these women’s vulnerability and then inflicted serious sexual violence and control, the CPS applied to the court to sentence him as a dangerous offender to ensure his sentence served to protect any future victims.