An 18-year-old Leeds man who attacked a female student in April of last year yesterday received an extended sentence of twelve years, eight of which must be spent in prison.

Cameron Higgins carried out his attack on the young woman on the day he celebrated his seventeenth birthday, after a night out with friends in the Headingley area of Leeds. 

Yesterday, Leeds Crown Court heard that Higgins, who was wearing a disguise during the attack, threatened the unnamed female student with a knife, before then repeatedly hitting her head and body with a baseball bat.

The victim was left badly injured, suffering head wounds and bruises to the body. The court heard that Higgins’ motivation for the attack was that it made him ‘excited’ and that he wanted to ‘permanently shut [his victim] up’, before he also revealed that he had fantasised about stabbing his mother, sister and father’s girlfriend in the past.

After having searched his home in Meanwood during their investigation, West Yorkshire Police found a crossbow and £500 worth of cocaine and cannabis. The 18-year-old admitted to having sold drugs for over year before the incident.

Higgins pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon, robbery and possession of class A and B drugs with intent to supply, and was told he will serve a custodial period of at least eight years, followed by four years on licence.

 

Shamima Noor