A man who raped a "vulnerable" woman behind Liverpool Lime Street station claims he doesn't remember the attack.
Merseyside Police said officers were called to reports of a sexual assault, during the early hours of Sunday, February 6 this year. CCTV footage was recovered and forensic enquiries made, before the investigation was passed to British Transport Police (BTP), due to the location of the attack.
BTP said it had charged William Ormandy, 31, of Church Road, Halewood, with rape and assault by penetration, on February 18. Ormandy appeared at Liverpool Crown Court this morning, via video link from HMP Altcourse, when he pleaded guilty to rape.
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Judge Denis Watson, QC, asked if there was any basis of plea, to which Sarah Holt, defending, said there was not. Ms Holt said: "The defendant's position, other than that implicit in his pleas entered, is he has no recollection of the actual intercourse taking place, but he accepts that which is said."
Ormandy denied the lesser offence of assault by penetration, which Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) did not pursue. She said the prosecution would ask in due course for that charge to "lie on the file".
Judge Watson asked whether there had been discussions between the CPS, the police and the victim about this decision. Ms Mottram said she had spoken to a CPS lawyer, and also to the officer in charge of the case and the victim's dad, who were both sitting in the public gallery.
The prosecutor said: "It hasn't been taken back to the complainant herself, but I understand she is a vulnerable young lady. I'm satisfied as far as I can be that the decision is an appropriate one in the circumstances."
Ms Mottram said the prosecution would now seek a victim personal statement, which Judge Watson said would help him learn more about the impact of the attack on the woman. The judge said he also required a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service.
Judge Watson said this report must consider the issue of "dangerousness" - whether Ormandy is dangerous, as defined in law - and assess his "future risk". If he is found to be dangerous, Ormandy will receive an extended sentence, of which he will spend two thirds, rather than half of the sentence, behind bars, before he is released on licence.
Judge Watson adjourned sentencing until April 25 and remanded Ormandy in custody until that date. He told the rapist: "Sentence is inevitably going to be a custodial sentence of some length."
The judge added Ormandy must now sign on the Sex Offenders Register and the period of these "notification requirements" would be set at the next hearing. Judge Watson said: "It's likely to be an indefinite requirement for notification it seems to me."
Anyone with information or wants to report a sexual offence is asked to call 101 where you will be spoken to by specially trained officers or you can pass information to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Support for victims is also available through the registered charity the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre Cheshire and Merseyside, who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063 or Rape and Sexual Assault Merseyside (RASA) on 0151 558 1801. In an emergency, always call 999.
