Man who violently raped woman in Burnley given lengthy jail term

A man who attacked and raped a woman in Burnley has been given a sentence totalling 23 years.

Bo Yang attended the victim’s address in Burnley at just after 11pm on April 15^th last year and engaged her in conversation.

Following a disagreement about money, Yang took a knife from his right pocket, forced the victim next to a bed and used the knife to tear her clothes. Yang then took out a metal bar from the bag he was carrying and used it to savagely beat the victim. It was then that he raped and sexually assaulted her.

Not content with having committed the violent, sexual attack, Yang then removed rope and tape from his bag and tied the victim up – placing tape around her head. He then used the knife to slash her.

Yang then took items from the victim’s purse, including her bank cards and money. He used her facial recognition on the victim’s phone in an attempt to transfer money into his bank account.

The victim managed to run from the property when Yang had his back turned and sought help from neighbours who rang the police at 3.46am – bringing to an end her five-hour ordeal of terror.

In a statement the victim said she suffered insomnia and nightmares, and her mental and physical health had been badly affected.

Yang, 41, was identified as a result of CCTV and forensic enquiries, including from fingerprints recovered from the tape he had placed around the victim’s face.

In what is thought to be a first is Lancashire, our officers also managed to recover data from 'We Chat' which is the Chinese version of WhatsApp. This evidence proved vital in this case.

Yang, of Winn Grove, Sheffield, was arrested and later charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, robbery and possession of a bladed article.

Following a trial at Preston Crown Court in December, Yang was found guilty on all counts.

He appeared for sentence today (Friday, February 6^th) and was given a 23-year sentence - 18 years custodial and 5 years extended licence. As soon as he is deemed eligible for release by the Parole Board, he is subject to deportation. 

The judge commended the work of the officers who brought Yang to justice – DCs Jodie Nolan and DC Asad Mirdad, from a Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Team (Rasso).

DC Nolan said: “I welcome this significant custodial sentence given today. Yang is an extremely violent sexual predator who exposed his victim to a sustained and horrific ordeal.

“I would like to again thank the jury for their guilty verdicts and the investigation team, including DC Asad Mirdad, for obtaining the vital evidence which helped secure this conviction.”

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a sexual offence report it online via https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/ or call 101. You should do so knowing you will be believed, you will be listened to, and we will do everything in our power to put the perpetrator before the courts.