Grindr rapist brands victim a 'f***ing rat' as he's kicked out of court

A judge described the chef as "manipulative and predatory"

A rapist who subjected a man to a harrowing assault hours after meeting him on Grindr branded his victim a "f***ing rat" as he was kicked out of court. Steven Osbourne attacked the complainant as soon as he had lured him back to his flat, subjecting him to a "prolonged and violent" ordeal.

The "manipulative and predatory" chef then left him covered in blood after headbutting him when he tried to escape. He has now been brought to justice over his appalling crimes, but delivered a series of foul mouthed tirades from the dock before he was removed from the courtroom.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Thursday, March 27, that the victim attended Osbourne's bedsit on Windsor Street in New Brighton, Wirral, in February last year after exchanging messages with him on dating app Grindr in the early hours. But, "as soon as he went through the door", the 37-year-old forced him onto the bed, threatened to cut his throat and raped him while telling him "he was his b****".

He then bizarrely began "making car noises in his face" and bit the complainant's chest before raping him twice more. The man was only able to escape when the defendant's landlord, who lived in the next room of the house in multiple occupation, called at his apartment to complain about his tenant smoking.

But Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, described how Osbourne then followed him down the street and headbutted him while he was waiting for a taxi, which had been called for him by a concerned hairdresser who was opening up her salon for the day at the time. In a statement which was read out to the court on his behalf, he said: "I feel like I can't look at my own reflection. In the bath, I use Dettol as I'm constantly feeling dirty.

"I'm unable to bring myself to tell my mum as she'd be heartbroken. I'm trying to act normal and I can't. I was always the life and soul of the party with my friends. I feel like I'm a burden to my friends as they're constantly checking in on me."

The victim also detailed how he contracted chlamydia following the incident and had to be tested for HIV, saying of this: "I was shaking with fear. Thankfully it was a negative result, but I still feel dirty knowing he gave me a sexually transmitted disease. That day made me question everything I knew. I know this will always be with me."

Mr Gibson went on to outline how Osbourne's previous convictions include an offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2016, which involved him "detaining his partner against her will". At this, he shouted: "Any chance I'm going to get to f***ing defend myself? He's just talking s*** and telling lies constantly."

Judge Katherine Pierpoint responded by warning him that he would be removed from court if he "didn't stay quiet". While she noted that these earlier events had not resulted in a conviction for false imprisonment, she added: "It is right that there is a pattern here of offending behaviour towards those with whom you have been involved in a relationship with."

When Mr Gibson then stated that the sexually transmitted disease was an aggravating feature in the case, Osbourne again ranted: "I've never given no one a f***ing STD. Why's he allowed to say this?"

This outburst saw the judge order his removal from the dock, to which he replied "f***ing happily" and shouted "f***ing rat" towards the victim as he was escorted to the cells by two security guards. He was however allowed to return at the close of the prosecution's submissions, saying "I'm sorry" after receiving a further warning over his behaviour.

John Weate, defending, then told the court: "His anxiety got the better of him in relation to the reference to a sexually transmitted infection. He said that, when he went into custody, he underwent medical checks and testing and he has never been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection. He asserts that is not something which has emanated from himself.

"He has had significant mental health problems over the years due to his traumatic past. It led, it appears, from his childhood going through the care system and some of the experiences he suffered as a young person during that particular period.

"In contrast with that, there is a contract of employment, dated the 11th of January 2024, as a chef. There is a contract with the arts club in relation to him undertaking and creating events at that venue. That was something which could have ended up being quite lucrative.

"Certainly, for as long as he can remember, he has been someone who has been hard working and looking for employment. He did have a relative period of stability between 2021 and leading up to the period when these offences were committed.

"Much was going for him in his life. He had new accommodation in New Brighton. He was beginning what he thought was going to be the beginning of a successful period in his life.

"The defendant still denies his guilty in this case. He says that the behaviour described 'is not me'. He does not know where it came from and states that it would never happen again. While he says, in his view and in his belief, what happened was consensual, he recognises that he has been convicted. He has misread what was going on.

"When he got the arts centre contract, this, he saw, was something that was going to open up his life financially and within the community. He went out and had too much to drink. Having not had any alcoholic drink for around three months prior to this, he had an excess amount to drink as a result of celebrating the contract.

"He accepts that he had more to drink than he should have had. The defendant was experimenting and exploring his own sexuality. He had two other encounters with men through the same site where there had been no problems at all.

"He wants to ensure that he does not find himself in this position again. He wants to secure the confidence of those people around him so that, when he does come to be released, he can make himself useful and get on with his life without any further blots on his character."

Osbourne was found guilty of three counts of rape following a trial but admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey Nike tracksuit, he was jailed for 12 years and handed an additional five years on licence and again shouted "f***ing rat, f***ing sl*g" as he was led downstairs.

Sentencing, Judge Pierpoint said: "You account was wholeheartedly rejected by the jury. In his view, until this matter is finally resolved in this court, he cannot start to move on. You have stripped this man of his sense of security and the trust he had in others.

"The complainant in this case has shown great bravery in standing up to you. He went through the ordeal, at this court, of being questioned about his account and, on your instruction, being accused of making up his account. He should be commended for the bravery and strength he has shown.

"I accept that you have been treated, in the past, for psychotic symptoms. You can have periods of time where your life is stable and you work hard. I am pleased to hear that you are using your time in prison productively. You have begun to address some of the issues that you clearly need support with.

"This was a sustained incident. There was, in this case, prolonged detention. Your previous convictions are an aggravating factor. That includes offences of violence and control towards previous partners. You have no previous sexual convictions, and there have been periods of time when you have remained trouble free.

"This was a prolonged, violent incident. You were manipulative and predatory. You have, in my judgement, shown no insight into your offending. Your offending shows a particular pattern of violence, threats of violence and controlling behaviour."

Osbourne will be required to serve at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars before becoming eligible for release. He was also handed a restraining order banning him from contacting the complainant for life and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, as well as being told to sign the sex offenders' register for life.