'Dangerous predator' raped teenager and young woman after plying them with drink and drugs

• Watch the moment Avon and Somerset Police arrest Leon Austin

A 'dangerous predator' who raped a teenager and a young woman after plying them with alcohol and drugs has been sent to prison for 20 years.

Leon Austin, 31, who was described as a significant risk to women, pleaded guilty to five counts of rape after the attacks in 2018 and 2022.

Bristol Crown Court heard how Austin's action had severely impacted both his victims, with the judge praising their bravery.

Last August, Austin and a woman, who was in her 20s, went to a number of pubs before staying up drinking at the home of one of Austin's friends.

The next morning Austin offered to take the woman back home, but during that journey made sexual advances to her, which she declined.

He refused to take no for an answer and despite her attempts to flee the vehicle, he sexually assaulted her. He then stopped at a remote barn in Charfield where he attacked and raped her.

After the attack, the woman ran away and Austin drove from the scene. She managed to flag down a passing motorist and called the police.

In her victim personal statement, the woman told the court said: “I have good days and bad days.

"On bad days, I cannot do anything, I am crippled by an overwhelming fear to do anything, leave my room, have a shower or eat. I still feel I have more bad days than good.

“There have been times that I have to go to my mum because I am concerned what I might do to myself.”

She also has struggled to sleep or return to work because of the trauma caused by Austin.

It has led to her losing weight, making a conscious decision to change her appearance and not celebrating her birthday.

She said: “Since Leon raped me, I am really self-conscious; more so than I was before. The clothes I wear have changed… I am really conscious of what people think of me and worried that men will see me sexually.”

She continued: “My friends struggle to understand what happened, they don’t want to be around me because I am not my usual happy self. I am often difficult to be around.

“My relationship and outlook on men in general has completely changed. I am so scared and intimidated by any man.”

Following Austin's arrest in 2022, Gloucestershire Police re-examined a rape case from October 2018.

Austin picked up a girl, who was 17 years old at the time, in Dursley and promised to take her to the railway station.

On route, he convinced her to come back to his remote caravan in Berkeley and bought her cannabis.

When she later asked to be taken to the station as planned, he refused and raped her.

At the time, Austin was not prosecuted because of insufficient evidence.

In her victim personal statement, the woman said: “I wish I never went through it, but I did.

"I know now how strong it’s made me become and made me who I am today. It made me realise that I am strong because I thought I was going to be killed that night.

“I was in the middle of nowhere. Nowhere to go or anyone to turn to. I thought ‘this is it’ that night and have continued thinking that afterwards.”

She continued: “I felt scared that night with Leon. Scared is an understatement but big words won’t describe the emotions I felt.

“After the incident, I didn’t want to be around men and I thought I hated them. I didn’t want to be touched by one or even have one around me.

“Every time I got in the shower and bath for months after the incident I didn’t even wash myself properly.

"I just sat in the bath or shower and just let the water hit my body. I would cry and just think back to the time I had been raped. I didn’t even want to touch myself, I felt so dirty and disgusting after what had happened.

“It caused my drinking and drug issues to get a lot worse. My self-confidence got completely destroyed.

"Every time I looked at myself I felt disgusted and just saw ugliness. I questioned my worth all the time. I really hated everything and everyone.”

Austin, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty in January to five counts of rape – two relating to 2018 and three to 2022 – and one count of attempting to choke, suffocate or strangle with intent to commit rape.

He was jailed for 20 years at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 24 March and will need to serve five years on licence upon release.

His Honour Judge Michael Cullum described Austin as a dangerous offender and a man who posed a significant risk to women. He also praised the victims’ for their courage.

Officer in the case DC Carl Spicer said: “Austin is sexual predator who targeted younger vulnerable and alone females, providing them with drink or drugs. He then ignored their wishes when they did not consent to sex.”

DC Spicer added: “Both women have shown incredible levels of bravery and courage to report what happened to them and they should feel proud that by doing so has meant a dangerous man is behind bars.

“While I hope this sentence brings them both some closure, it is important to recognise the impact of what they have been through is far-reaching and this hearing doesn’t magically erase what has happened.

“The testimonies both women provided – in which they talk about how their lives have changed – are incredibly powerful and I am sure will strike a chord with anyone who has been sexually assaulted.

“It is difficult to hear a victim talk about how they don’t feel comfortable being the same person they were before, and the lifestyle changes they feel they have had to make afterwards to feel safer.

“It cannot be stressed enough that it’s never the victim’s fault for what has happened to them; it is solely the perpetrator’s.

“Avon and Somerset Police remains committed to tackling violence against women and by having a perpetrator focus we hope to continue to give victims the confidence to report what has had happened to them, offer whatever support they need and to ensure predators such as Austin are jailed for their horrific crimes.”