Brothers found guilty of raping teenage girls nearly 20 years ago
A pair of brothers have been found guilty for raping two teenage girls in Rotherham almost two decades ago.
The National Crime Agency said Mark Evans, 36, and Robert Evans, 40, abused the teens beginning in 2006 when the defendants were about 18 and 21 years old.
The pair were convicted on two counts of rape each after a two-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court. Mark Evans also found guilty of sexual activity with a child and assault by penetration.
The duo were arrested in August 2020 after officers from the NCA’s Operation Stovewood – which examines historic sexual abuse in Rotherham – investigated allegations made by three female victims.
The court heard how the brothers intimidated girls and plied them with drugs and alcohol before luring them to locations where they attacked them. One of the victims was just 13 at the time.
Mark had taken her and some friends to an abandoned barn when he separated her from the group and raped her.
The same victim was attacked by Robert Evans months later when he lured her to a house in Rotherham by lying that one of her friends would be there, plying her with alcohol on the way, and raping her when they got there. Robert ‘seemed amused’ by it, the NCA said.
Another woman said Mark walked her home one evening when she was just 14, before raping her in an alleyway. She was later raped by Robert in a bathroom after being lured to a house.
The third victim was 13 when Mark began to groom her by giving her alcohol and drugs and calling her his girlfriend.
She told officers that Mark visited her at home and asked for sex, to which she complied out of fear that she would be dumped, the NCA said.
NCA senior investigator Kim Boreham said: ‘Our investigation uncovered the extent to which the Evans brothers used manipulation to lure young girls away from safety, into places where they were at the men’s mercy.
‘The victims bravely described how the brothers abused them in the worst ways, showing no remorse afterwards. It was extremely difficult for the victims to re-live the abuse but with their courageous testimonies we were able to investigate the brothers’ crimes and ensure they faced justice.’
What to do if you’ve been raped
If you have been the victim of rape, either recently or historically, and are looking for help, support is out there.
- If you have recently been raped and you are still at risk, ring 999 and ask for the police. Otherwise, the first step is to go somewhere you are safe.
- If you want to report your rape to the police, ring 999 or the police non-emergency line on 101. An Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) will often be on hand to help you through reporting and even after you have made a statement, you can still decide to withdraw from the criminal justice process at any time.
- If you plan on going to the police, if possible, do not wash your clothes or shower, bathe or brush your teeth. If you do get changed, keep the clothes you were wearing in a plastic bag. These steps will help to preserve any DNA evidence your attacker may have left on your body or clothes.
- If you don’t want to contact the police, Rape Crisis suggest talking to someone you trust about what has happened; or you can ring one of the UK’s many rape and sexual assault helplines.
- Anyone aged 16+ can contact Rape Crisis’s 24/7 Support Line by calling 0808 500 2222 or starting an online chat.
- If you have been injured, you’re best advised to go to your nearest A&E to seek medical treatment. If you are uninjured, you can go to your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). The NHS has information on where to find your nearest centre here.
- If your rape is historic, you can still access support, including from the police – there is no time limit on reporting and your account can still be used as evidence.
Read more here.
The sister of Mark and Robert, Ann Marie Evans, was also arrested and charged under the Sexual Offences Act after she published social media posts identifying two of her brothers’ victims.
All victims of sexual offences are by law granted automatic life-long anonymity. Ms Evans was convicted and sentenced last year and her brothers will be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on January 16.
Anyone who has been sexually abused as a child can report to police by calling 101 or visiting a police station.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
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