The violent rapist attacked his victim for five hours (Image: MEN Media)
A rapist who beat his victim with a metal bar, raped and slashed her with a knife in a harrowing five hour attack has been jailed for 23 years. During the harrowing ordeal, the violent rapist even used facial recognition on the victim's phone in an attempt to transfer money into his bank account, and took items from her purse, including bank cards and money.
Bo Yang, 41, headed to the woman's home in Burnley at just after 11pm on April 15 last year and engaged her in conversation, Lancashire Constabulary said in a statement released after his sentencing. Following a disagreement about money, Yang then took a knife from his right pocket. Forcing the victim next to a bed, he used the knife to tear her clothes. He then produced a metal bar from his bag before safely “savagely” beating her, the force added.
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It was then that he raped and sexually assaulted her. The violent ordeal did not end there, as Yang then removed rope and tape from his bag and tied the victim up – placing tape around her head. He then used the knife to slash her.
He then robbed her of her bank cards and cash.
The victim then bravely made a break for it and managed to run from the property when Yang had turned his back. She sought help from neighbors, who rang the police at 3.46am – bringing to an end what the force described as a “five-hour ordeal of terror.”
Yang was identified following CCTV and forensic inquiries. Fingerprints were recovered from the tape he put around the woman's face.
In a statement, the victim said she suffered insomnia and nightmares, and her mental and physical health had been badly affected.
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Lancashire officers also managed to recover data from 'We Chat', a Chinese messaging application similar to WhatsApp. This evidence proved “vital” in this case, the force said.
Yang, of Winn Grove, Sheffield, was arrested and later charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, robbery and possession of a bladed article.
Following a trial at Preston Crown Court in December, Yang was found guilty on all counts.
He appeared for sentencing today, Friday, February 6, and was given a 23-year sentence – 18 years custodial and 5 years extended license. He will be subject to deportation as soon as he is deemed eligible for release by the Parole Board, the force also said.
The judge commended the work of the officers who brought Yang to justice – DCs Jodie Nolan and DC Asad Mirdad, from a Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Team (Rasso).
DC Nolan said: “I welcome this significant custodial sentence given today. Yang is an extremely violent sexual predator who exposed his victim to a sustained and horrific ordeal.
“I would like to again thank the jury for their guilty verdicts and the investigation team, including DC Asad Mirdad, for obtaining the vital evidence which helped secure this conviction.”