Girl's testimony helps jail rapist after her death

Kristian Franks was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for rape of woman

The testimony of a 16-year-old girl whose body was later found in a York river has helped to convict a man of rape.

Kristian John Franks was accused of raping Leah Bedford in a vehicle in September 2023, but the case was dropped and he was acquitted because the teenager died the same month.

However, it led police to re-open a cold case from 2017 in which Franks, from the York area, had been accused of raping another victim in his van.

At York Crown Court on Thursday, the 35-year-old man was jailed for eight years and nine months, with an extended licence period of six years, for the 2017 rape.

The court heard the first victim and the defendant met by chance in a bar on 14 May 2017.

They shared a taxi but the victim declined Franks' invitation to go to his house.

After being dropped off at her address, she discovered Franks had followed the taxi in his van and he then drove her to a secluded location where he raped her after she refused to have sex with him.

The police were called after the victim confided in her step-brother and Franks was arrested but he denied the offence, claiming all actions were consensual.

The victim later withdrew her consent to continue with the investigation, and the case was dropped.

Victim threatened

On 6 September 2023, Leah Bedford was reportedly targeted by Franks, who she did not know, on Scarcroft Road in York.

Witnesses said Leah was completely unaware of where she was, but Franks told another witness he knew her and would take her home.

The court heard the defendant drove Leah to an area of York where he raped her.

She fled and after flagging down a passing motorist was taken to hospital due to injuries sustained during the attack.

A police investigation was launched, which identified the defendant through his vehicle and he was arrested the next day.

He denied any wrongdoing and again claimed his actions were consensual, but was charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by penetration and remanded in custody.

Following Frank's arrest, investigators from the Cold Case Review Team re-examined the 2017 case and noted the similar circumstances.

Officers contacted the victim and she agreed to re-engage with the investigation, saying she only withdrew her original complaint after receiving threats.

The 2017 case was formally re-opened and Franks was charged with rape.

However, Leah was reported missing on 20 September 2023 and her body was recovered from the River Ouse in York eight days later.

Due to her death and the issues being one of consent, Leah's case was withdrawn at court and Franks was acquitted and released from custody.

'No remorse'

Prosecuting Barrister Christopher Rose applied for Leah's case to be used as bad character evidence for the 2017 case due to the clear unlikelihood of two unconnected women making similar allegations about the same man.

The witnesses in Leah's case were, therefore, called to give evidence in the trial and her video recorded interview was shown to the jury.

​​Police Staff Investigator Amy Gilgrist said: "The victim of the 2017 case showed immense courage to come to court eight years later and she gave compelling and impactful evidence against her abuser.

"Franks has tried throughout the whole of this investigation to undermine the accounts of his victims.

"He believes himself to be above the law and has shown no remorse for the acts he carried out."

She added she hoped the verdict could bring some comfort to the victim and Leah's family, knowing that both women have been heard, listened to and believed.

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