Jail for churchyard rape of girl

Alexander Meyer was in fancy dress when he attacked the girl

A knifeman in fancy dress who raped a 13-year-old girl in a churchyard has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Alexander Meyer, 25, of Sandford on Thames, near Oxford, was also placed on the sex offenders register for life for the attack in Llanidloes, Powys.

He turned off her mobile phone as her father tried to call her and threatened to kill her, Mold Crown Court heard.

Meyer admitted rape and also possessing indecent images of children, which were found on two computers.

The court heard that he threatened the girl with a knife during her ordeal in a churchyard shed at an annual fancy dress party in July.

Judge Merfyn Hughes QC sentenced Meyer to seven years for rape and six months for possessing 47 indecent images of children on computers.

He also banned Meyer from ever working with children and described the offender as a significant risk to young girls.

Screamed

The court was told how Meyer, wearing a bright red dressing gown and slippers, had offered to help the girl when she had become separated from her friends, but he sexually assaulted and then raped her.

He later told police that she was dressed provocatively.

At the time, Meyer was living near Oxford with his girlfriend, but he returned to his home town of Llanidloes for the annual fancy dress street party in July.

During her 30-minute ordeal, the girl's father, who was also in Llanidloes, rang her mobile phone but Meyer switched it off and threatened to kill her if she screamed.

Judge Hughes said: "There can be no doubt that she was the unfortunate victim, by chance, of your predatory behaviour, in circumstances in which she was entirely innocent.

"You told her that you had a knife and that you would put it across her neck if she screamed.

"You also threatened to kill her."

The court heard the girl was now receiving counselling, but she was frightened to leave her parents' home.

She has also been affected by cruel and unfounded rumours that she encouraged the attack, the court was told.

Rhys Rowlands, prosecuting, said: "Nothing could be further from the truth. The crown wish to make it clear that she is a totally innocent victim in every sense of the word."

Duncan Bould, defending, said Meyer, who had no previous convictions, accepted full responsibility for what had occurred and had expressed genuine horror and remorse.