Brothers Convicted of Raping Teenage Girls in Rotherham

Two brothers were convicted of raping vulnerable girls, some as young as 13, in Rotherham, with the offences dating back 18 years. Proceedings at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday revealed that Mark Evans, aged 36, and Robert Evans, aged 40, manipulated their victims, providing them with drugs and alcohol before enticing them to various sites where the assaults occurred. During the court proceedings, two of the victims, who were 13 and 14 years old at the time the crimes were committed, testified that they were raped by both brothers on different occasions. A third woman reported being raped by Mark Evans when she was also 13. Sentencing for the brothers is scheduled for 16 January. Their arrest took place in August 2020, as part of Operation Stovewood. This operation was established following the Jay Report, which identified that a minimum of 1,400 girls in Rotherham had been subjected to abuse, trafficking, and grooming by male gangs between the years 1997 and 2013. Testimony presented in court indicated that two of the victims were given alcohol by the brothers on separate occasions. They were then enticed to various sites, such as a barn and an alleyway, where the rapes occurred. Mark Evans groomed the third victim, providing her with drugs and alcohol before raping her in an alleyway. Kim Boreham, a senior investigator with the National Crime Agency, stated: “The victims bravely described how the brothers abused them in the worst ways, showing no remorse afterwards.” She further commented that while it was exceptionally challenging for the women to recount their experiences of abuse, their “courageous testimonies” were instrumental in bringing the brothers to justice. Mark Wayne Evans, residing at Wharncliffe Hill, Rotherham, received convictions for two counts of rape, one count of sexual activity with a child, and one count of assault by penetration. Robert George Evans, whose address is Thompson Close, Rotherham, was convicted of two counts of rape. Previously, their sister, Ann Marie Evans, 29, from Goldthorpe near Barnsley, received a six-week suspended prison sentence after confessing to publishing the names of the three victims on social media platforms. Individuals impacted by the subjects discussed in this report can find additional assistance through the BBC Action Line. For highlights from South Yorkshire, tune into BBC Sounds; for the most recent episode of Look North, catch up there, or submit a story you believe warrants coverage here. All rights reserved. Copyright 2024 BBC. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available for review.