Macauley Worden, 28, has been jailed for 34 years for raping and attempting to kill a young homeless woman on a canal towpath in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in August 2025. The sentence, handed down at Leicester Crown Court on Friday, July 10, 2026, includes an additional five years of extended licence.
Attack on Canal Towpath
The court heard that Worden, who had taken heroin and crack cocaine, was walking along the canal at about 1am on August 30, 2025, when he encountered the 21-year-old victim, a former student sleeping rough under a canal bridge. He asked to borrow her phone, then walked off with it. When she tried to retrieve it, Worden punched her to the ground and struck her in the face about ten times before raping her.
Judge William Harbage KC stated that Worden told the victim not to scream before violently raping her. After the assault, he said, "Now I'll have to kill you." He then took the cord from her hoodie and wrapped it around her neck. The woman managed to slide her fingers under the cord and pull it away. Worden then grabbed the belt from her shorts and attempted to strangle her with that, but she also managed to discard it.
Attempted Drowning and Escape
The judge recounted that Worden then pushed the victim into the canal. Although he tried to persuade her to get out, she swam to the opposite bank. Worden threw all her belongings into the water and fled, taking her phone and wallet. The victim, cold, wet, bruised, and wearing only socks below the waist, escaped to a nearby bus depot. She sustained multiple bruises and abrasions to her head, face, and knees.
Arrest and Trial
Worden, of no fixed abode, was arrested on September 3, 2025, found sleeping rough in a tent about a mile from the crime scene. Despite his DNA being found, he elected trial, claiming the sex was consensual. Following a six-day trial in April 2026, he was convicted of attempted murder, rape, sexual assault by penetration, and robbery. He also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm partway through the trial.
Sentence and Restraining Order
On Friday, Judge Harbage jailed Worden for 34 years, with an additional five years of extended licence. Worden was placed on the sex offender register indefinitely and made subject to an indefinite restraining order, prohibiting contact with the victim.
Police Statements
Detective Inspector Majid Zaveri, senior investigating officer from Leicestershire Police's Signal unit, said: “I hope the sentence passed today has provided the victim with a degree of closure which will allow them to move on with their life. The strength and courage they’ve shown throughout the investigation – and particularly during the court process – is testament to their character and determination to ensure that Worden was brought to justice for what was undoubtedly a violent and incomprehensible attack.”
Detective Constable Chris Fox, the officer in the case, added: “We will always take a zero-tolerance approach to anyone committing sexual offences. Today’s sentence shows that the courts also take a similar approach and will ensure that those responsible are locked up for a significant amount of time, meaning that they cannot cause harm to our communities. I hope this outcome provides reassurance to the public and encourages anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to come forward and seek justice.”
