A distressed woman was enticed to a drug house, restrained with electric cables, and subjected to robbery and torture by individuals she considered friends for a prolonged period exceeding six hours.
Jeanette Martin, aged 33, collaborated with co-addict Shevonne Wright, aged 42, to perpetrate the assault on the victim at a residence utilized by drug users in Harehills, Leeds, on November 16 of the previous year. In a virtual appearance before Leeds Crown Court from separate locations at HMP New Hall, it was revealed that Martin had engaged the victim under the pretext of assisting with property decoration on Bayswater Grove. The victim, who had prior acquaintance with both defendants before relocating from the area, was lured to the drug den by Martin. According to prosecutor Shannon Woodley, the victim was coerced into an uninhabited property filled with debris, where she was physically assaulted by Wright and Martin.
The victim was subjected to a barrage of physical blows, resulting in her being tied up with electrical cords by Martin and Wright. The ordeal escalated as Wright sat on the victim’s chest, continued the assault, and even strangled her to the point of losing consciousness. The victim was then robbed of £70 in cash, her bank card, and phone, with Martin subsequently withdrawing £160 from the victim’s account at an ATM while Wright remained with her.
The victim recounted the harrowing experience of being held captive, physically assaulted, and verbally abused by Wright and Martin. Following intervention by a third party, the victim was freed and promptly sought police assistance. Subsequently, both perpetrators pleaded guilty to robbery charges, supported by DNA evidence linking them to the crime scene and incriminating phone conversations detailing their actions.
In her victim impact statement, the woman detailed the lasting trauma and fear instilled by the incident, expressing profound distrust and isolation due to concerns of reprisal. She disclosed the psychological toll of the attack, recounting ongoing nightmares and symptoms indicative of complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
During sentencing, His Honour Judge Clark handed down a six-year and two-month prison term to both Wright and Martin, along with indefinite restraining orders to prevent contact with the victim. The judge characterized the offense as a premeditated and severe assault, underscoring the gravity of the perpetrators’ actions.