Rapist jailed after victim recognised photo

A 'SEXUAL predator' who raped a teenager in Eastville in the 1980s has been jailed after his victim recognised him from a photo.

A court heard Leroy Hall offered the then 17-year-old girl a lift in his car, before he drove her to Eastville and assaulted her.

In 2017 she recognised Hall as her attacker from a picture in a newspaper report about him, and contacted police to tell them what happened to her.

He was jailed for a total of six and a half years at Bristol Crown Court in January, after jury found him guilty of rape, as well as falsely imprisoning and indecently assaulting another woman in the mid-1990s.

The second victim, who was in her 20s at the time, was offered a lift by Hall in Stokes Croft. He drove her around Bristol before indecently assaulting her.

Police said Hall had previous convictions for rape and called on any victims of sexual offenders to come forward, no matter how long ago the attack happened.

In a statement read out before he was sentenced, the woman Hall raped in the late 80s said it still affected her every day.

She said: “When my daughter was growing up, and even as an adult, I have been overprotective with her. I would organise her taxi, and check with her several times that night that she was OK when she went out, even checking she had got into the right taxi.

“I am still angry I have to go through therapy, and I still think about what happened to me every day of my life.

“I want the person who raped me to understand that what he did all those years ago has affected my life and that I will never be the same person again.”

Hall is now 66 and was living in Chaplin Road, Easton, before he was jailed.

Investigating officer Rog Ibrahim, of Bristol CID, said Hall's crimes were "horrific".

He said: "Leroy Hall demonstrated sexual predatory behaviour by committing these serious offences against a teenager and a young woman, which has had an enormous impact on them both throughout their lives.

“We would like to thank both women for having courage and strength throughout the investigation and crown court trial, as it has led to a serious sexual offender being brought to justice.

“We’d like to assure anyone who wishes to report any sexual offence that they will be believed – it does not matter if it happened 30 minutes ago or 30 years ago, it will be taken very seriously and we can help victims access any support services they may benefit from."

Victims can contact The Bridge, a sexual assault referral centre available all year round, by calling 0117 342 6999 or visiting www.thebridgecanhelp. org.uk.