Birmingham Schoolgirl, 14, Woke to Being Raped by Stranger Who Covered Her Mouth
A 14-year-old schoolgirl from Birmingham woke up in terror to find herself being raped by a stranger, with his hand over her mouth to muffle her cries. The horrific attack occurred after she passed out from alcohol and cannabis in a property in Aston, having been lured there from the city centre by Rhyce Longstaff and his friend.
Details of the Attack and Court Proceedings
Rhyce Longstaff, 31, from Haydock Close, Hodge Hill, was found guilty of three charges of rape following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. On Friday, March 6, he was branded a 'dangerous' criminal and sentenced to 16 years in prison, with an extended six-year licence. The court heard that the girl was so traumatised by flashbacks that she had since attempted to take her own life.
In the early hours of October 11, 2024, Longstaff and a friend encountered the girl and two of her friends in Birmingham city centre. He quickly invited them back to an address on Sutton Street in Aston. Once there, the girl consumed alcohol and smoked cannabis, though it was not Longstaff who provided these substances. She then lost consciousness in an upstairs bedroom.
Judge Andrew Smith KC told Longstaff: "You must have either followed her or gone looking for her and found her in a very vulnerable, unconscious state. Her vulnerability was increased by being uncertain as to where she was and being among a number of older male strangers. The terror she must have felt to wake and find you raping her cannot be adequately described."
Victim's Trauma and Longstaff's Actions
The judge continued, describing how Longstaff reacted to the girl waking up: "Your reaction to her waking was to put a hand across her mouth to silence any response, including her crying, and to tell her not to tell anyone as she would not be believed." After the girl passed out again, Longstaff returned to the bedroom and raped her on two further occasions. He then left the house and took her phone with him to prevent her from calling for help.
In a statement, the girl described how she had lost confidence and self-esteem, no longer recognising herself. She spoke of being too frightened to go out and suffering 'terrible nightmares'. She provided vivid details of trying to end her own life because 'I could see it as the only way out'. After Longstaff's arrest and conviction, she said it felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, but added: "I was fine for a bit but then I felt low again because what happened just won't leave my head." However, she concluded by saying she was determined that the attack would not 'ruin my life'.
Sentencing and Lack of Remorse
Longstaff attended the hearing via video link from HMP Birmingham and was seen repeatedly holding his head in his hand throughout. Judge Smith noted: "I identify no mitigation of note in your favour. In particular, you have demonstrated no remorse." Longstaff has previous convictions, including robbery, affray, and threatening someone with a knife.
Even his own defence lawyer, Justin Hugheston-Roberts, had nothing positive to say about him. He simply asked the judge to step back from a possible life sentence and to pass a punishment that was as lenient as possible in line with his public duty. The case highlights the severe impact of such crimes on young victims and the importance of justice in holding perpetrators accountable.
