A judge blasted a “morally bankrupt” teenager who filmed himself having sex with a schoolgirl and then sent the clip to a friend who put it on Facebook.
Luke Patten, 19, – claimed he was sorry after admitting having sex with the 15-year-old and distributing the video.
But while on bail – just six days after an adjourned court hearing – he punched, kicked and stamped on a man leaving him for dead, before then having sex with his girlfriend in the street.
Patten, of Bridle Road, Eastham, Wirral, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, but was cleared after a trial of twice raping and sexually assaulting the girl, 17.
Judge Steven Everett, QC, said: “I’ve been a lawyer and a judge now for 35 years. Rarely have I ever come across somebody as morally bankrupt as you.”
The judge handed Patten four-and-a-half years in a young offenders’ institution but only after slamming prosecutors for not charging him with more serious attempted grievous bodily harm.
Judge Steven Everett at Liverpool Crown Court.
Liverpool Crown Court heard drunken Patten had consensual sex with the 15-year-old after holding a three-day party when his parents went away on holiday in August 2013.
She had drunk half a bottle of vodka and had no idea that Patten, then 17, pulled out his iPhone, filmed her, and turned the camera to capture his grinning face as he stuck his tongue out.
David Polglase, prosecuting, said Patten – who had sex with several girls at the party – sent the video to another girl, who put it on Facebook and tagged the victim.
She was alerted to the clip while out shopping, but Facebook refused to remove it.
Judge Everett said the girl who shared the video received a police warning but should also have been prosecuted.
Another girl also shared the footage, which the “desperately humiliated” victim said was seen by friends and family and led to her being taunted with shouts of “porn” at school.
The devastated girl, who changed her appearance and has not had a boyfriend since, said: “I just want my life to be normal again.”
Mr Polglase said the 19-year-old man attacked in March last year by Patten “genuinely thought he was going to die”.
Patten stamped on his head, shouted “stay down” and threatened his mum and sister, before having sex with the girl. The court heard the jury could not be satisfied they had sex without consent.
The Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, Liverpool Crown Court. Photo by Ian Cooper
Judge Everett said Patten “could have killed” the man, who has heart problems and needed an operation to replace an existing internal heart monitor.
Lee Bonner, defending Patten, said his client did not intend for the video to be put on Facebook and was remorseful after eight months in custody.
However, Judge Everett said: “The only person he feels sorry for is himself.”
He said: “You have used cannabis since you were 12, cocaine since you were 16 and rather too often you drink to excess.
“You have shown you care for nobody but yourself. Your behaviour has quite clearly had a seriously detrimental affect on many people who have been unfortunate enough to know you and come across you.“Your parents love you as a son but hate the individual you have become.
“You are essentially a person with no morals at all. You have all the morals of a tom cat.
“With no understanding of how much you must change, you will inevitably spend the rest of your life in custody.”
Judge Everett said Patten pursued the second woman, even though he knew she had a boyfriend.
He said: “You didn’t care because you believe you are God’s gift to women and they will do whatever you want.
“You have just carried out a serious attack on a young man, whom you have left for dead, and what were you thinking? ‘I’m going to have sex with his girlfriend’.
“You were having sex when police and an ambulance turned up to take him away.
“When cross-examined you said ‘I was only thinking about having sex – I went home with a smile on my face’.
“I am quite satisfied you are at the moment incapable of remorse.”
Judge Everett gave Patten a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and told him to sign on the Sex Offender Register for five years.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/