(Image: West Yorkshire Police)
A man from Bradford who was convicted of serious sex offences including multiple rapes has been handed an extended sentence of 25 years.
Aaron Purewal, who bragged of having “a rape kink”, was jailed for 20 years and given a further five years on licence at Bradford Crown Court today (October 5).
Purewal, 32, of no fixed abode but formerly of Pennine House, Well Street, on the edge of Little Germany, Bradford, was found guilty of ten offences by a jury in April following a trial.
They were five counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, intentional suffocation, intentional strangulation, and sexual assault.
He was acquitted of four charges: rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and common assault.
The jury deliberated for nine hours and 23 minutes.
Sentencing Purewal, Her Honour Judge Sophie McKone said he represented a danger to women in the future.
Judge McKone told him: “You deny these offences.
“You have expressed absolutely no remorse at all, or any insight into your behaviour.
“I am satisfied that you present a high risk of significant harm to others.
“I conclude [that] you are dangerous – and the risk you pose is unlikely to be reduced.”
She added: “You seem to get satisfaction – joy, almost – from the pain that you created.”
During one attack the victim managed to dial 999 and part of the assault – described in court as “harrowing” – was recorded even as Purewal had his hand over her mouth.
He told her: “I can rape you if I want.”
In a statement read to the court on her behalf, Purewal’s victim said she felt as though she was “living in a state of shock” and lived with intense anxiety and hypervigilance.
She said she regularly had nightmares about Purewal, and added: “There is very little joy in my life” and described her experience as “dehumanising”.
The court heard that Purewal had no previous offences recorded against him in the UK but had served prison terms in Canada where he had convictions for supplying controlled drugs, making threats to kill, possessing a firearm without a licence, and trading in shotguns without being registered as a dealer.
In mitigation, the court heard that Purewal had received 12 character references including from his parents, two ex-partners, his employer, and landlord.
Barrister Richard Bloomfield said: “He is capable of being a thoroughly decent young man when he wants to be.”
Purewal, who appeared in court via video link from HMP Leeds, will have to register as a sex offender for life.
He was also made subject to a lifelong restraining order banning him from all contact with the victim.
Judge McKone said he would serve two-thirds of the custodial period in prison before the parole board considers whether it is safe for him to be released and, if so, on what terms.