Teen rape victims bravely faced attacker in court. Their life stories are devastating

Two young rape victims from Nottingham faced their attacker in court and told him about the devastating effect his actions have had on both of them. One of them said she turned to drugs and drink while another attempted suicide on five occasions after they were abused by Daniel Lineker.

The now 18-year-old defendant, who was 14 at the time he carried out his crimes, denied what he had done, meaning the girls, who were both aged under 16 when they were attacked, had to relive their ordeals by giving evidence at a trial. Now he has been put behind bars for four years.

Reading her impact statement out in person at Nottingham Crown Court, girl A said: “After it happened, I started using drugs because they gave me the best feeling in the world and so I carried on using them to deal with the trauma I was feeling. My addiction got to the point where I was using drugs almost daily.

“I felt suicidal; I isolated myself in my room in the dark, I would just sit there in my coat staring at the walls. I would drink before school, after school, any time I could get my hands on it.

“I was drinking a 70cl bottle every day and felt that being drunk was part of my personality. Looking back, I now realise I was ill. I developed an irrational fear of mirrors and my reflection. All I could see when I looked in the mirror was my (old) self looking back at me. I developed a fear that someone would come out of the mirror and get me.

“The guilty verdict was a relief and I feel like I have got the justice I wanted but this does not fix everything.”

The second victim also summoned up a huge amount of courage to take to the witness box to read her statement. In it she said: “The actions of Dan Lineker changed my life for the worse and will stay with me for the rest of my life. I have attempted suicide five times and twice had to be taken to hospital. I can no longer trust anyone.”

The trial heard how the girls were targeted by Lineker, of Trent Boulevard, Lady Bay, West Bridgford. Both victims were pinned down by Lineker and raped.

Handing him a sentence of four years in youth detention, Judge Steven Coupland said: “This was calculated, deliberate and was not about sex but about power. You used physical force to pin them down and get what you wanted despite them repeatedly telling you to get off.

“You tied girl A’s wrists so she could not get away and cut her arm with a razor blade which was degrading and gratuitous. The effects of what you did were and will remain catastrophic.

“Despite your chronological age of 14 at the time, you acted in a way that was older. You were sexually experienced and were able to run your own business.

“There is no remorse even now for what you did. You still deny the offences and you still blame the victims.”

Lucy Jones, mitigating, said her client “comes from a good family,” “works hard and contributes financially”. She said: “Since the revelations of these allegations Daniel has been isolated and bullied both physically and emotionally. He has suffered.”

Both girls receive lifetime anonymity and Lineker will be on the sex offender register for the rest of his life. Nottinghamshire Police does not have a custody photograph of the defendant.