Gloucester man admits rape after changing plea at last minute

RAPIST Jamie Groves has been warned to expect a jail term of up to four years after he admitted attacking a 14-year-old girl in an alleyway near the city's rugby ground.

Groves, 20, of Sapperton Road, Gloucester, had always denied the allegation and was to have stood jury trial at the city crown court yesterday.

But at the last minute he pleaded guilty on the basis that having started having sex with him the girl asked him to stop and he did not.

At an earlier hearing the court was told Groves met the girl at GL1, the city leisure centre, and got to know her.

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On October 23 last year she agreed to meet him in Kingsholm near the rugby ground and he then proceeded to have sex with her– continuing despite her asking him to stop.

At yesterday's hearing his solicitor, Andrew Hobson, asked Judge Jamie Tabor QC for a 'Goodyear' direction – an indication of what the sentence would be if Groves were to plead guilty.

"His plea would be on the basis that he commenced sexual intercourse with this young lady, he being 19 at the time," said Mr Hobson.

The solicitor showed the judge a medical report on Groves and said it indicated he has mild Tourettes and attention deficit syndrome or some form of autism.

Judge Tabor said his sentence would depend greatly on whether Groves is assessed as having a younger mental age than his true age.

"He is undoubtedly young for his age," said Mr Hobson.

The judge ordered a psychological report on Groves and bailed him until December 10.

He said if the report showed Groves has a mental age as low as 15 or 16 that would mean his sentence being reduced by 50 per cent of what he would receive if he was treated as a 20 year old adult.

However, he said, the maximum sentence he would impose in any circumstances would be four years.

After an adjournment for Groves and his parents to consult with Mr Hobson, he returned to court and pleaded guilty to rape.

The judge bailed Groves on condition he does not contact the girl and he stays away from a sporting club which she attends.