A grime artist who was serving 24 years in jail for imprisoning and repeatedly raping four women has had his sentence increased by six years.
Solo 45, whose real name is Andy Anokye, was found guilty of 21 rapes, five counts of false imprisonment, two counts of assault by penetration and two of actual bodily harm at Bristol Crown Court last July.
However, following a hearing the Court of Appeal have ruled that his initial sentence was “unduly lenient”, and he will now spend 30 years in jail for the 30 charges which took place over a two-year period.
He also was also handed a five years additional licence to reflect the seriousness of the offences.
Speaking after the ruling which was made by three senior judges, Solicitor General Michael Ellis QC called Anokye’s crimes “truly shocking”.
He performed under the name Solo 45 with the collective Boy Better Know
Mr Ellis said the court’s decision to increase the sentence recognised “the severity of the abuse [Anokye] inflicted upon his victims and the danger he poses to the public”.
Calls for Anokye to be given a life sentence were rejected.
During his trial, the jury heard that the musician derived sexual pleasure from torturing women by waterboarding, interrogating, assaulting and raping them.
The court heard that Anokye forced one woman to lie in a bath of freezing cold water, held a shotgun to the head of another, held a cloth covered in bleach to women’s faces, and forced a mobile phone down a woman’s throat.
Graphic footage filmed by Anokye on his mobile phone showing him abusing multiple women was also shown to the jury as evidence.
The 33-year-old had claimed it was consensual role play, or a game he played called “catch me, rape me”. He said he had told the women that he would “terrorise” them.
Anokye, who is from London but had a harbourside apartment in Bristol, told the court during evidence that he had dacryphilia – sexual arousal from tears and sobbing.
Anokye was part of grime collective Boy Better Know signed to record label Island Records, and had collaborated with the likes of Stormzy, JME and Wiley.
When passing his original sentence last summer, judge William Hart, told Anokye he had “no sexual boundaries or empathy for those concerned”.
He said the rapper – who had a background of gang associations and criminal violence – “become addicted” to the “perverted pleasure” he gained from abusing his victims and that none of his fellow musicians knew about his “dark side”.
He said Anokye’s conviction had deprived him of a “flourishing career”, but had only himself to blame.
Avon and Somerset Police first began investigating him in 2017, after a woman reported being raped by him.
Following the discovery of the video footage on Anokye’s phone, three further woman came forward to police.
A fifth woman also gave evidence against him, but her allegation could not be prosecuted as it happened abroad.
Anokye will only be released from prison after serving at least 20 years of his 30-year jail term behind bars and when the Parole Board is satisfied he no longer poses a danger to the public.