Jay Jenkins-Lang, 23, told his victim she ‘liked it’ but she was scared he would use the weapons against her during the rape
Jay Jenkins-Lang(Image: Gwent Police)
A man armed with an imitation firearm and a machete raped a teenager who feared she would be attacked if she resisted. He went on to submit a false letter to the court during his original trial, which purported to be from the victim saying she had made up the allegation.
Jay Jenkins-Lang, 23, met his victim online and they began messaging each other before agreeing to meet up. The defendant was due to appear at Newport Magistrates’ Court but he met the victim in the court car park before leaving in a taxi.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard Jenkins-Lang later attended a shop where he purchased an imitation firearm. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.
He spent the evening with the victim and she described him as being “a bit touchy” before locking the door.
In his sentencing remarks Judge Daniel Williams said: “You determined you were going to have sex with [the victim] irrespective of her wishes.”
The defendant grabbed hold of the victim by her clothes and forced her onto the floor before climbing on top of her.
She felt scared as she was aware Jenkins-Lang had what she believed to be a real gun and a machete in his bag and feared he would use them if she said anything.
During the rape the defendant bit the victim on her breast which caused a bruise.
She asked him to stop but he told her she “liked it” and continued with more force.
The victim managed to push him off and called the police but she later received a text from Jenkins-Lang who told her she had to have an abortion if she fell pregnant.
When arrested the defendant was found in possession of the imitation firearm and a knife.
He denied the offence and faced trial but the first trial collapsed after he produced a letter, written by a fellow prisoner, purporting to be from the victim which claimed she had “framed him”.
The jury was discharged so the letter could be investigated but it was found to be a forgery.
Jenkins-Lang, of Llanelltyd, Gwynedd, was convicted after a second trial, of rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of an imitation firearm, possession of a bladed article, and perverting the course of justice.
In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Roger Griffiths the victim said: “I’m feeling less anxious than I was at the start. I feel a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders now the court process has finished. I feel like I can move on with my life.
“I wasn’t fully in control of my emotions… I managed to build up courage to carry it through. I feel very proud of myself and I can talk more openly about this and know justice has been served. I feel I can go back to living a normal life, have closure, get help that I need, and feel I have got justice.
“I don’t feel like another number. I feel the authorities have helped me and I felt supported throughout the whole process. I never expected myself to be in this situation and I never thought it would happen to me.
“Now I can start a new chapter of my life without looking over my shoulder. I feel happy, safe, well assured I can move on with the rest of my life and deal with whatever is thrown my way.”
The defendant was also to be dealt with for possession of an imitation firearm, possession of an offensive weapon, and criminal damage after he shot at a car window with a BB gun.
The court heard he has previous convictions for battery, criminal damage, and attempted rape, committed when he was 13 year old.
In that case he pushed his victim to the floor and said “Shut up, I’m going to f*** you”. There was a struggle and as she tried to fight him off he placed his hand in her bra. He said: “I am going to rape you. I’m going to f*** you and make you pregnant. I’m going to put my hands down your pants and rape you.”
In mitigation Jenny Yeo said her client had “significant exposure to corrupt influences” during his childhood after he was put in care and was “unable to sustain relationships with adults or his peers”.
The defence barrister said the defendant has been diagnosed with ADHD, borderline personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder.
Sentencing, Judge Williams said the defendant was a “high risk of causing serious harm” to women and the public in general.
Jenkins-Lang was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with an extended licence period of six years.
He was also made subject to a sex offender notification requirements and a restraining order indefinitely.
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