A woman walking home after celebrating her birthday at Camel Club Huddersfield was lured into a car and sexually assaulted by a convicted rapist.
Ethan Hare, 40, from Ashfield Drive, Halifax, encountered the woman after she tripped on a metal wire and he offered her a ride home. Subsequently, Hare assaulted her twice during the car journey, according to Leeds Crown Court.
The victim flagged down a taxi after the assault, and the driver assisted her in contacting the authorities. Hare was apprehended within a day and claimed to the police that the encounter was consensual.
During the trial, it was revealed that the woman has experienced severe anxiety since the incident, impacting her relationships and daily life significantly. Hare, with previous non-sexual convictions, received a 15-year extended sentence, with ten years to be served in custody and a five-year extended license period.
Detective Constable Charlotte Pugh of West Yorkshire Police described the crime as a heinous act by a dangerous sexual predator who preyed on a vulnerable individual. The victim’s bravery in reporting the assault promptly led to Hare’s swift arrest.
