Man admits raping teenager in Basildon (From Echo)
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Man admits raping teen in Basildon
9:00am Tuesday 21st August 2012 in Local News
A MAN has admitted raping a teenager as she walked home from a night out at Basildon ’s Festival Leisure Park .
Curtis Pizzey, 23, of Barnard Close, Basildon, pleaded guilty to carrying out the attack on the 18-year-old girl and will be sentenced next month.
Basildon Crown Court heard Pizzey pounced as the girl walked through an underpass, which runs below Cranes Farm Road to Ghyllgrove. He grabbed the terrified teen, dragging her to a nearby muddy grass bank where he subjected her to the horrific sex attack.
The girl was left shaken and injured after the incident in the early hours of Monday, May 14.
Prosecuting, Peter Gair, told the court that Pizzey, who has no previous convictions, had initally planned to carry out the rape on someone else.
He said: “It does appear Mr Pizzey had the intention of carrying out the attack on another woman, but ended up carrying out on the victim in this case.
“There is no previous relationship between the victim and Mr Pizzey.”
In the aftermath of the rape the underpass was cordoned off while police probed the scene for clues.
Detectives then launched a major manhunt and issued an appeal to the public saying they were looking for a man with “muddy shoes” due to the torrential downpours at the time.
They also issued an e-fit of the girl’s attacker.
Their investigations led them to Pizzey, who was arrested earlier this month and charged.
He admitted the offence last Friday.
Roger Neild, Pizzey’s barrister, said his client had a history of mental illness.
Judge Jonathan Black adjourned sentencing for reports to be prepared.
Pizzey was remanded in custody and will return to the court next month for sentence.
