A woman was brutally attacked by a violent rapist, enduring a terrifying five-hour ordeal at knifepoint. Bo Yang arrived at the victim’s residence in Burnley, Lancashire, just after 11 pm on April 15 last year, leading to a confrontation over money. The 41-year-old brandished a knife, forcing the woman to a bed where he tore her clothes. He then retrieved a metal bar from a bag, viciously assaulting her before committing rape and sexual abuse.
Subsequently, Yang bound the victim with rope and taped her head. He proceeded to inflict further harm with the knife, as revealed in court. Additionally, he robbed her of bank cards and cash, attempting to transfer funds to his account via facial recognition on her phone.
The woman managed to escape when Yang momentarily turned away. Seeking help from neighbors, she contacted the police at 3:46 am, putting an end to the harrowing five-hour ordeal, as reported by LancsLive.
The victim expressed profound distress, suffering from nightmares and insomnia, impacting both her mental and physical well-being. Yang’s identification was facilitated by CCTV footage and forensic evidence, including fingerprints recovered from the tape used during the assault.
In a Lancashire first, investigators obtained crucial evidence from ‘WeChat,’ the Chinese counterpart of WhatsApp. Yang, residing in Winn Grove, Sheffield, was apprehended and charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault, assault resulting in bodily harm, robbery, and possession of a bladed weapon. Following a trial at Preston Crown Court in December, Yang was convicted on all charges. Today, during sentencing, he received a 23-year term, with 18 years in custody and five years on an extended license. Lancashire Police stated that upon eligibility for release by the Parole Board, Yang faces deportation. The judge commended the efforts of officers involved in bringing Yang to justice, specifically highlighting the work of DCs Jodie Nolan and DC Asad Mirdad from the Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Team (Rasso).
DC Nolan expressed satisfaction with the substantial custodial sentence handed to Yang, emphasizing his predatory nature and the victim’s harrowing experience. She acknowledged the jury for the guilty verdicts and the investigative team, particularly DC Asad Mirdad, for securing crucial evidence leading to the conviction.
