Bo Yang

On the night of April 15, 2024, Bo Yang, a 41-year-old man from Sheffield, arrived at the victim's address in Burnley just after 11pm. The incident stemmed from a disagreement about money, escalating into a horrific attack.

Yang pulled a knife from his pocket and forced the victim next to a bed, using the blade to tear her clothes. He then retrieved a metal bar from his bag and savagely beat her, inflicting serious injuries. Following the assault, Yang raped and sexually assaulted the victim. He further restrained her by removing rope and tape from his bag, tying her up and placing tape around her head. Yang then used the knife to slash her, causing additional harm.

After the attack, Yang ransacked the victim's purse, stealing bank cards and money. He compelled her to use facial recognition to unlock her phone and attempted to transfer funds to his own bank account. The victim seized an opportunity to escape when Yang turned his back, fleeing the property and seeking help from neighbours, who contacted police at 3.45am.

Lancashire Police identified Yang through CCTV footage and forensic evidence, including fingerprints recovered from the tape used on the victim. In a notable development, officers extracted data from WeChat, the Chinese equivalent of WhatsApp, which provided crucial evidence in the case—believed to be a first for Lancashire Police.

Yang, residing on Winn Grove in Sheffield, was arrested and charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, robbery, and possession of a bladed article. After a two-week trial at Preston Crown Court, a jury found him guilty on all counts on December 12, 2024. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on February 6, 2025.

Detective Constable Jodie Nolan from Lancashire Police's Burnley rape and serious sexual offence team described Yang as 'an extremely violent sexual predator who exposed his victim to a sustained and horrific ordeal.' She commended the jury's verdicts and the investigative team, including DC Asad Mirdad, for securing vital evidence.