Prison sentence of UK-based Ghanaian who raped 4 women increased to 35 years

UK-based Andy Anokye who held four women against their will and repeatedly raped them has had his sentence increased by the court of appeal.

Victims of Andy Anokye, 33, who performed as a grime artist under the stage name Solo 45, told how he beat and threatened them with weapons, held a cloth with bleach over their faces and waterboarded them, recording much of the abuse on his mobile phone.

Anokye was convicted of 30 charges at Bristol crown court last year and handed a 29-year extended sentence, made up of a 24-year jail term and an extended licence period of five years.

But after a hearing on Friday, three senior judges concluded the sentence was “unduly lenient” and increased it to 35 years – with a 30-year jail term and five years extended licence.

Lady Justice Macur, sitting with two other judges, said the original sentence did not reflect the fact that Anokye had committed multiple offences of rape against four separate victims. The court refused an attempt by Anokye to appeal against the length of his original sentence.

His sentence was referred to the court by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme.

Speaking after the ruling, the solicitor general, Michael Ellis QC, said: “Anokye’s crimes were truly shocking. The court of appeal’s decision to increase his sentence recognises the severity of the abuse he inflicted upon his victims and the danger he poses to the public.”

The musician, who was part of the collective Boy Better Know, admitted in court that he liked to “terrorise” women but claimed they always consented to his “rape game.”

However, when asked during cross-examination whether he ever continued to have sex when a woman had asked him to stop, Anokye initially said he “usually” did stop, before swiftly correcting himself to say “always.”

The videos he made of his crimes were so extreme and intimate that the public gallery was cleared when they were shown and, unusually, only two members of the media were allowed to view them.

Anokye grew up in Tottenham, north London, but was living in a Bristol apartment at the time of his arrest. Giving evidence, Anokye told the court he had dacryphilia – a sexual arousal from tears or sobbing.

He will only be released from prison after serving at least 20 years of his 30-year jail term behind bars and when the Parole Board is satisfied he no longer poses a danger to the public.