Teenager Raped By Host Who Plied Her with Rum

Ten Years: McQuade

A rapist, who encouraged a 17 year-old to get drunk on rum before attacking her when she arrived at his flat to just “hang out,” is starting a ten-year prison sentence today.

Market trader Francis McQuade, 35, struck after the teen had consensual sex with two other men at the property, forcing her to the bathroom floor while throttling her.

The father-of-three, of Pankhurst House, Du Cane Road, Shepherd’s Bush - who admitted smoking crack earlier that day - even popped out to a local shop for more rum to continue drinking into the early hours.

He fought the case, but was convicted unanimously by an Isleworth Crown Court jury after an eight-day trial of one count of rape and one of attempted rape at the address on January 20. 

“The defendant strangled her during the rape, preventing her breathing and causing her pain,” said prosecutor Cyrus Shroff. “She was extremely drunk and had already been exposed to exploitative behaviour by the two other men.

“This defendant was pressuring her to drink alcohol and down glasses of rum and he was sexually aggressive towards her from the moment she arrived at the flat.

“He had been saying he wanted to have sex with her and was aggressively sexual towards her throughout the evening and on his own evidence was very drunk.”

Judge Kwame Inyundo told suited McQuade, who has been locked-up since his arrest: “You are over two years older than her and that night she came to your home to ‘hang out.’

“You met her at the front door showing signs of intoxication and made sexual references and continued to make crude sexual gestures to her when she was alone in the room with you.

“She went into the bathroom to have sex with her boyfriend and you and the other guest took more than a passing interest in this.

“All three of the men were drunk and each of them were encouraging her to drink strong alcoholic spirits,” added the judge. “She then had further sexual activity with the other guest.

“You considered that you should be party to sexual activity with her, but she did not want or consent to sexual activity with you.

“She said she was in pain and wanted to be sick in an attempt to put you off, but you physically forced her when she was intoxicated and grabbed her by the neck and forced her to the bathroom floor.”

After the rape the teenager tried to crash out on the living-room floor, but McQuade positioned himself behind her.

“You tried to pull her trousers down and kiss her and your behaviour was bizarre and erratic,” Judge Inyundo told him. “You would suddenly change from speaking softly to aggressively.

“The victim used her phone to make recordings and it is obvious to anybody listening to them your intention was to have sexual activity with her.”

After eventually leaving the flat in the early hours the victim called police from a nearby bus stop and McQuade was arrested shortly afterwards.

Despite the jury’s unanimous verdicts McQuade still maintains his innocence, claiming in his pre-sentence report sex with the young woman was consensual.

“The recordings overwhelmingly show the opposite,” announced the judge. 

McQuade comes from a large family of North End Road, Fulham market traders and was a well-known and popular character on his parents’ curtain stall.

However, while travelling in Australia he was violently attacked in Melbourne, resulting in serious head trauma and a brain injury that required three immediate surgeries.

This injury has effected his behaviour since and was a factor in the offending, said Emma White, defending. “This is a man who acts on impulse rather than pre-meditation.

“He is susceptible to making bad choices and there is a link between his brain injury and his vulnerability.

“It is also suspected he was a victim of cuckooing by a Somalian drug gang.

“The doctor says the brain injury ‘played a moderate part or perhaps a more significant role’ inn the offence.”

In her victim impact statement the teenager said: “I no longer enjoy going out with friends without feeling fear or paranoia.

“I have had long periods of depression and have contemplated suicide. I do not socialise with male friends and this will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“I will never love anyone and I have a lifetime of trauma and fear.”

However, Ms White reminded the judge: “I would ask your honour to approach some of what she said in her victim impact statement with caution.

“This trial was delayed because she could not be found. She was enjoying herself at the Notting Hill Carnival.

“It is a step too far to say she was plied with alcohol to assist this offending.

“This is a group that in effect took over his home and were drinking and potentially taking drugs,” added the lawyer. 

A DNA test confirmed sexual contact with the victim.

“It is obvious from the medical reports the brain injury you received is a matter that cannot be put aside,” announced Judge Inyundo. “The impact of it is the principal mitigation in the case.

“You lack impulse control and are open to influence. The consequences of that brain injury did play a part and that will be reflected in the sentence.”

McQuade, who will serve two-thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for parole must also sign the sex offenders register for life.