Two drug addicts who lured a woman to a drug den in Leeds, bound her with electric cables and subjected her to more than six hours of torture have been jailed for six years and two months. Jeanette Martin, 33, and Shevonne Wright, 42, admitted robbery after a planned attack on November 16 last year.
Victim lured under false pretences
Prosecutor Shannon Woodley told Leeds Crown Court that the victim, who knew both defendants, was approached by Martin with an offer to help decorate a property in Bayswater Grove. The woman travelled by bus the next day to meet Martin, who led her to a vacant, rubbish-strewn house near Bayswater Road in Harehills. Inside, she was taken to an attic room with a makeshift mattress, where Wright was waiting.
Ms Woodley said: "Jeanette Martin appeared to come from a different street and took her into a property where the door was open. It appeared to be vacant with rubbish everywhere." The victim was told to sit down, then Wright began attacking her, with Martin joining in moments later.
Six-hour ordeal of beatings and strangulation
The pair rained punches on the woman before Martin instructed Wright to "get her legs". They tied her up using electrical cables. Wright then sat on the victim's chest and continued punching her. Martin tied a cable around the woman's neck, strangling her until she lost consciousness. The beating continued as the victim begged for her life and pleaded to see her children.
Ms Woodley said: "Jeanette Martin tied the cable around her neck, strangling her until she lost consciousness. The beating continued and Jeanette Martin threatened to kill her and she begged for her life and to see her children." The attackers stole £70 in cash, a bank card and a phone, forcing the victim to reveal her PIN. Martin then withdrew £160 from an ATM while Wright stayed behind, holding the woman captive.
Victim left tied up, fearing death
During the ordeal, Wright made phone calls in the victim's presence, telling callers: "I have got this b**** tied up" and "She had to deal with her as she had ruined her day." Wright beat the woman over the head with the phone and stamped on her back. She threatened to leave her tied up with socks in her mouth to muffle her screams. The victim said: "I was so terrified I was going to die I wet myself and they laughed and called me a dirty b****."
Eventually, a man Wright had contacted arrived and untied the woman, taking her home where she called the police. DNA evidence placed both defendants at the scene, and phone records revealed conversations about the plan, including a message from Martin: "She's coming at 2pm" and another saying "Doors open."
Victim's life shattered
In a victim impact statement, the woman said she had been friends with Wright since October 2024 but that Wright became increasingly angry after her father went to prison. She described the attack as "the most harrowing six-and-a-half hours of my life." Since the robbery, she has isolated herself, suffers nightmares and has been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder. She said: "I have thought about [taking my life] as I'm terrified when they are released they will come and find me and seek revenge."
The court heard Wright had 37 previous offences, including violent crimes, while Martin had 29 offences for dishonesty and drug possession. At the time of the robbery, Martin was subject to a suspended sentence.
Defence pleas and sentencing
Wright's barrister, Mark Foley, said she had a "sad and criminal history" with a significant drug addiction, but noted a six-year gap without offending. He said she regretted the incident and recognised its impact. Martin's barrister, Mike Walsh, said the attack "got out of hand" and that her time in custody had allowed her to reflect. He noted she was on a reduced methadone prescription of 25ml.
His Honour Judge Clark sentenced both women to six years and two months in prison and imposed indefinite restraining orders prohibiting them from contacting the victim. Wright cried as the judge said: "This was a planned and unpleasant attack and while it was not planned to be this extreme, it was this extreme."
