Youth jailed for predatory rape

A schoolboy who dragged a woman off the street after going out looking for someone to rape has been given five years in a youth detention centre.

Wayne Marcel, 16, admitted planning the attack for about a week before raping a 23-year-old student in an alley in Stratford, east London, last March.

Marcel was arrested after his DNA was found on two condoms at the scene of the attack in Channelsea Path.

He was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday after pleading guilty to rape.

He went to a park and felt sexually aroused and was looking for someone to rape Simon Mayo, prosecutor

Marcel, of Stratford, east London, was also ordered to be put on the sex offenders' register for life.

Simon Mayo, prosecuting, said the woman had been walking along, listening to her Walkman when she was grabbed from behind and a hand was placed over her mouth.

The woman suffered 55 injuries after being punched and kicked by the boy.

Mr Mayo said: "He had with him a knife which he did not use and two condoms and seemed to know where he could drag his victim into a secluded area."

Disturbed background

The court heard Marcel had told a psychiatrist that he wanted to have sex but wanted to be in control.

That day, he had returned from school and smoked cannabis.

"He went to a park and felt sexually aroused and was looking for someone to rape," said Mr Mayo.

The court heard people living nearby alerted the police after hearing the woman's screams.

Marcel finally ended his attack after hearing the approaching police sirens.

Brutal attack

When officers found the woman she had been raped twice and was covered in cuts and bruises.

Chris Henley, defending, said Marcel, who lived with his mother, had suffered a disturbed background.

"There must be a pretty strong link between his behaviour, the significant violence he displayed, from matters he has himself witnessed or been a victim of," he said.

Det Ins Craig Marshall, said: "This was a horrifying stranger rape and brutal attack on a young woman who was going about her everyday business.

"I hope today offers some closure to her ordeal."