Jamie Fretwell

On the night of 5 August 2020, a 16-year-old girl was out drinking with friends in Wakefield city centre. The group, including Jamie Fretwell who was 18 at the time, consumed alcohol on the streets before Fretwell purchased vodka to join them. As the evening progressed, the others dispersed, leaving Fretwell alone with the victim. They danced near the railway station to music playing from a car in the early hours, eventually descending a ramp to an underground car park in the Mulberry Way area where they lay down.

The girl, heavily intoxicated, fell asleep. CCTV footage captured the subsequent assault: Fretwell moved drinks bottles that separated them, began touching her inappropriately, and then raped her for approximately 12 minutes. The victim awoke during the attack but, paralysed by fear, pretended to remain asleep. Fretwell ceased the assault, repositioned the bottles, and they parted ways shortly after. Distraught, the girl confided in a friend's mother upon arriving at their home, prompting police involvement.

Fretwell, residing on Earl Street in Wakefield, vehemently denied the allegations. He faced an initial trial at Leeds Crown Court where the jury convicted him of assault by penetration but deadlocked on the rape charge. A retrial ensued, resulting in a guilty verdict for rape. Now 23, Fretwell appeared via video link from HMP Leeds during the sentencing hearing on 5 November 2025.

Prosecutor Camille Morland read the victim's impact statement, detailing profound trauma: 'It has affected my entire life, physically and mentally. I’m still struggling years later. I felt bedbound about how depressed I was. I had constant nightmares and still do.' She described daily panic attacks, strained family and friendships, and enduring distrust of men. Judge Andrew Stubbs KC addressed Fretwell: 'She froze in fear, incapable of doing anything to prevent what took place. She is still affected all this time later. She was particularly vulnerable. You knew she was asleep.' Acknowledging Fretwell's youth at the time, the judge reduced the sentence but dismissed autism as a mitigating factor, stating it involved 'rational choices'.

Mitigator Paul Addison noted Fretwell's persistent belief in his innocence alongside remorse, compounded by anxiety, depression, and autism. The court imposed a five-and-a-half-year custodial sentence, with lifelong registration on the sex offenders' register. West Yorkshire Police investigated the case, with footage providing crucial evidence. This incident underscores the vulnerability of young people in social settings and the judiciary's firm stance on sexual violence.