A NORTHFIELD man who held a gun to a teenager’s head before raping her in a Birmingham graveyard has been jailed.
Michael Ware, of Shenley Fields Drive, was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (August 7) after pleading guilty to the assault.
Ware received 15 years for four counts of sexual assault and rape, seven years for possession of an imitation firearm and one year for possession of a bladed article. The sentences will all run concurrently. He will also be placed on the sex offender register for life.
The court heard, the 23-year-old had followed the 19-year-old from Kings Norton railway station on the evening of December 6, 2014.
He then threatened her with the imitation firearm on Back Road, Kings Norton, before he forced her into church grounds nearby.
During the attack the woman managed to grab the gun from Ware and create a chance to escape from his clutches.
When officers combed the crime scene for clues they found a damaged mobile phone which traced back to Ware.
He was arrested a few days later after an eagle eyed neighbourhood cop spotted him following a woman from Kings Norton train station.
He matched the description circulated to officers following the assault and when stopped and searched was found with a knife.
Insp Ian Ingram, from Birmingham’s public protection unit, said the woman who was attacked had shown great strength throughout the investigation.
He added: “This must have been a terrifying ordeal for her and we would like to commend her for her bravery.
“She had the presence of mind to pick up the gun that had been placed on the floor and used this as her means to escape.
“Ware planned the attack and we are convinced that he would have carried on offending, the fact that he was caught following another potential victim proves this.
“Through good police work and crucial evidence we have today secured a conviction of a very dangerous man who will spend a long time behind bars.”
