Jailed: Life in prison for Shrewsbury rapist who brutally attacked and stabbed schoolgirl

The 14-year-old was screaming and pleading for her life as she was threatened with the kitchen knife during her horrific 20-minute ordeal in Shrewsbury.

Her attacker, 23-year-old Matthew Gill, had selected his young victim at random having watched a number of violent rape pornography films on his laptop the previous night.

Gill was given a discretionary life sentence at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday by Judge Robin Onions, who said reports on the defendant made "deeply troubling reading" and that he had no doubt Gill posed a risk to the public and a number of known individuals.

"I am satisfied you pose a very real danger for the foreseeable future and with no estimate of time in which you will cease to be a danger," he said.

The court heard that Gill may well have some personality disorder but was not suffering from any psychiatric illness.

Judge Onions said Gill had a history of fire setting and harboured feelings of revenge over many years.

He said Gill was a high risk for violence, sexual violence and arson and it was "unusual" to have such a high level of risk in all these areas.

Passing sentence, Judge Onions said the discretionary life sentence involved a minimum period of custody of five years and four months.

He said that Gill would not be eligible for release until the parole board had considered the level of risk and the defendant would be on licence for the rest of his natural life.

Judge Onions said that he had taken into account the significant degree of planning, the element of abduction, the degradation, that it was a prolonged and sustained attack, the violence involving use of a knife and that the victim being a vulnerable teenager who was just 14 years old.

At an earlier hearing Gill, of Reedham Road in Herongate, Shrewsbury, had pleaded guilty to a charge of rape and a further two charges of attempted rape.

Mr Hugh O'Brien Quinn, prosecuting, said the attack happened on May 13 this year at about 8.30am on an isolated footpath in woodland near Ellesmere Road.

Gill had cycled passed the girl before discarding his bike and returning on foot.

"He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her down a slope and had the knife in his hand.

"The young victim lost her footing and dropped her school bag and injured herself," he said. Gill had ignored her injury and dragged her through the undergrowth during which she bumped against trees and branches.

"She was screaming with fear and he said that if she did not stop he would kill her," said Mr O'Brien Quinn.

The schoolgirl suffered a stab wound to her leg, was gagged with a scarf and her hands bound behind her back and was forced to the ground during the assaults.

There were injuries to her neck where Gill had strangled her with his arm in an effort to get her to stop her screaming in fear. Gill had said he would "kill her" if she didn't stop. She pleaded for her life and said "I don't want to die".

Gill had said "do you want to be stabbed and have an ugly scar?".

He pushed to the tip of the knife through her trousers and into her leg, leaving a small wound.

After the assault he had taken her mobile phone, but she was able to get to a friend's house to raise the alarm.

Gill was caught later after a brief police chase across a field and the knife was found hidden in a sock inside a rucksack.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson, who led the investigation, said:

"This was a horrific sex attack on a young girl who was walking to her friend's house when she was violently assaulted. Matthew Gill had clearly gone out that day to commit such an offence. There is no question that he is a dangerous individual and I am satisfied with the sentence given by the court.

"I would like to take this opportunity to commend the victim for her bravery in coming forward and reporting this horrific offence to police. Specially trained officers will continue to work closely with her and help to provide the support she needs to come to terms with this terrible crime. The victim's family also showed significant strength and the sentence given to Mr Gill will hopefully help them all to move on from this awful time.

"West Mercia police officers responded swiftly to the incident and were in the area minutes after the report was received where they identified and arrested Mr Gill.

"Rape and sexual offences are serious crimes and will be treated with the highest priority by police. Sexual offending is a significant area of work for our staff and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure victims are supported and offenders are brought to justice.

"Incidents such as this, which are thankfully rare across the West Mercia policing area, are undoubtedly extremely traumatic for anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence and we are keen to reassure anyone who has been a victim that should they choose to contact the police they will be treated in a caring and sensitive manner."

• If you have been the victim of a sexual assault you can also contact West Mercia Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre (WMRSASC) which provides a free, confidential and non-judgemental specialist support service for survivors who have experienced any form of sexual violence or abuse either recent or non-recent. For further information please contact their main office on 01905 611655 or email: office@wmrsasc.org.uk