The Offences
Four sexual assaults have been reported. All offences occurred in or around the city of Leeds in the UK in the past month.
Case 1 – In the first case, a 19 year old white female was walking through the city centre at around 11.30pm. She had been at a friend’s birthday party at a hotel in the city centre. She was approached by a white male, who she estimates to be in his late twenties, although she is unsure as to the accuracy of this estimate. She was unable to remember and describe her assailant in any detail. This man offered to give her a lift home in his car. She describes this vehicle as being a dark, saloon style vehicle. She accepted the lift and got into the car. She gave the assailant her address, which was on the outskirts of the city, and the man drove her to this area, he played loud dance music while driving, although failed to stop and continued to drive until he reached a field just outside of the city limits. He then proceeded to violently sexually assault her, forcing her at knife-point to perform sexual acts on him, before raping her twice. He used highly abusive language.
Case 2 – In the second case, a 46 year old female was walking in the city centre at the early hours of the morning. She was on her way to the bus stop to take the bus to go to work. A man pulled up and offered her a lift. As she was running late she accepted the offer. He drove her to an area she doesn’t remember and assaulted her violently. He punched her in the face repeatedly, forced her to perform oral sex and raped her twice. Her phone started ringing as he was leaving and he took her bag with him. She can’t remember anything about him due to the traumatic experience.
Case 3 – In the third case, a 25 year old white female was waiting for a taxi in the city centre at around midnight, after an evening out with friends. A man in a dark car pulled up beside her and offered her a lift. She gave the man her address, and he started to drive towards the direction of her home, on the western outskirts of the city. She did not really get a good look at the assailant, as it was dark, and she claims she can’t really remember anything about him. She thought he might have been middle-aged, as he had quite a mature-sounding voice. Again, the assailant drove her past where she lived, and took her to an area of parkland not too far from her home. He raped her, violently slapping her and breaking her arm during the act. When he finished he urinated on her and then walked away not taking the car that he drove in with him.
Case 4 – The fourth case involved a 36 year old white female. The offence occurred at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon in a park in a primary residential area of the city (located 0.5km from the city centre) where she took her dog for a walk. A man who she estimates to have been aged between 20-25 approached her and started asking questions about her dog as he claimed that he had a similar dog that he had to put down because it was very sick. As the victim was walking away she reported that he became emotional when he was telling her this. As they were walking together and chatting he suddenly punched her and started tearing her clothes. As she was shouting and screaming he took a rope out of his pocket, which she reported was like a lead for a dog, and tied her hands behind her back. While raping her he slapped her twice in the face. When he finished with her he left taking her clothes with him and leaving her naked. She said that she can’t remember much about him only that he was of average height with dark hair.
Based on the case materials provided (information on a series of offences and map of the offence locations) students have to prepare a presentation of a consultancy report providing investigative recommendations for law enforcement, after conducting a behavioural and crime scene analysis, geographical/spatial analysis and offender demographic analysis.
Suggested Structure of Report:
1. Executive summary
2. Background to the case
3. Methodology
4. Results/analyses
• What might be the key offender characteristics?
• What are the salient (important) features of the crime ?
• Where might the offender live?
5. Recommendations/action plan/investigative strategies
6. Summary and conclusions
7. References and recommendations for further reading