Serial Birmingham rapist Dean Holness had 'warped view' of consent

A serial rapist who carried out a string of depraved sex attacks against women and girls after playing "truth or dare" with them has been jailed for 20 years.

Evil Dean Holness, 38, targeted four women - including two teenage sisters - between July 2022 and April last year. A court heard he played truth or dare 'games' with three of his victims before sexually assaulting them and also raped one teen in front of her sister.

Holness, from Kings Norton, Birmingham, was previously found guilty of six counts of rape, two of assault by penetration, four of sexual assault, two of assault by beating, attempted sexual assault and attempting to pay for sexual services.

The dad-of-three was jailed for 20 years at Birmingham Crown Court today (Wednesday, January 3). The court was told Holness deliberately targeted his victims and took one vulnerable 15-year-old girl back to a hotel to abuse her after meeting her in West Bromwich. He made her take off her clothes off before sexually assaulting and raping her and offered her £300 for sex.

Sentencing, Judge Paul Farrer KC told the defendant he had a "warped view' of what consent was. Addressing the attacks on the two sisters, aged 18 and 19, the judge added: "On April 18 last year you took both girls back to your flat and gave them cocaine and alcohol. You played a game of truth and dare, introducing the notion of sexual activity."

He said Holness had become "forceful and persistent in his demands." He added: "This was a sustained incident which involved you committing sexual acts designed to degrade and humiliate your victims. As one example your compelled them to give you oral sex simultaneously. One of the sisters told the jury what you did amounted to physical and mental abuse. Saying no simply was not an option."

He said because of his attitude towards consent and his targeting of children and young women he represented a serious risk of harm to others. Richard Witcombe, prosecuting, said there was an "additional degradation of Holness switching readily between both sisters." He added: "While the attacks were going on Holness had placed his finger in the throat of one of the victims."

'I feared for both of our lives'

In a victim impact statement, she said "I had to watch it happen in front of me. I was completely traumatised by what happened." She said she had been too scared to intervene and added: "At that moment I feared for both of our lives. I felt that he could kill us. Having to watch a family member being raped was unbearable."

Mr Witcombe said that the defendant had sexually abused a 13-year-old girl in the bedroom of her mother's home. The 15-year-old victim he took to a hotel in February last year had been previously reported missing by her grandmother and suffered from autism.

He said: "There had been grooming beforehand. Holness had gained her trust. On her account he had saved her from the unwanted attentions of a man at the casino." Theresa Hunt, defending, said the offences had been opportunistic, that the defendant was a father of three and that he had had a difficult childhood.

Detective Constables Charlotte Broughton, of West Midlands Police, said after the case: "This was a joint investigation which involved specially trained officers across multiple teams. We would like to personally thank the survivors of Holness’ abuse for their incredible courage in coming forward and in giving their evidence before and during trial.

"Although we wish they had never had to live through their experiences, we hope that this conviction will assist with their closure and recovery. Not only have these survivors gained the justice they truly deserve but, also, due to their bravery, they have assisted in intervening in a pattern of sexual offending and protecting other women and children."