Young man sentenced for rape and assault of 15-year-old

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

A young man was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court on 3 February 2020 to eight years for rape and assault causing harm, with the final two years suspended on conditions. Those conditions included completing the Better Lives programme while in custody. The offences occurred at his home in Co Meath in the early hours of 27 March 2018.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim’s anonymity, pleaded guilty.

Mr Justice Michael White described the rape as violent and noted that a probation service report raised concerns about the man’s attitude to sexual assault and consent. The man had 14 previous convictions, including sexual assault and assault causing harm.