A teenager has been detained for 12 years after committing multiple counts of rape against young women over three years. Kevarnie Queen, from Brixton in South London, was convicted of 22 counts of rape between 2019 and 2022. He was 15 years old at the time of most of his offences, and met all but one of his victims on Snapchat. All of his victims were under 18 years old.
Honorary Recorder of Southwark Judge Usha Karu sentenced Queen and stated that his behaviour had been perverse and manipulative. She described his victims as “severely traumatised”. The judge ordered Queen to remain in custody for 12 years, to be followed by four years on extended licence.
Queen’s actions have been described by the Crown Prosecution Service as those of a “prolific sexual predator” with no regard for his victims. His pre-sentence report revealed that he held entrenched beliefs regarding females and entitlement to sex. During the trial, Queen presented himself as “a 100% player,” and Judge Karu noted that he still held these views.
The court heard that Queen had been given the chance to train for professional football, but his “likely promising future has been cut short” by his criminal behaviour. After his conviction in August, Laura Devitt, senior crown prosecutor from the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit in London South, praised the “immense bravery and mental fortitude” of Queen’s victims for coming forward.
Queen’s victims told the court of the severe impact that his actions had on their mental health. One victim said that she had attempted suicide, while another no longer believed in love. Many found it hard to trust men. Judge Karu warned that the effects of Queen’s actions will be long-lasting due to his victims’ youth.
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