Student shock as York lead singer is convicted
STUDENTS HAVE expressed their shock at the news that Clive Manyou, the well known front man of campus band Mitus, has been convicted of raping another student and sentenced to 6 years in prison.
Manyou a 36-year-old mature student with a wife and one year old child, lived near Halifax in Heslington. His band, Mitus, was a finalist in the 2006 Battle of the Bands and performed at last year’s Woodstock.
The jury was told how Manyou had two previous convictions from his early teens in Peckham for sexual assault and handling stolen goods. During the trial Manyou described his school as “hard and full of rough people”. Of his previous conviction of sexually assaulting a young girl he said “I was a stupid little boy, I regret it.”
A pupil at Kentwood School for boys, the judge said Manyou had “24 years of good character” until the recent sexual assault and rape. He left school at 16 to attend the National Youth Theatre and trained in classical music as an opera tenor. Manyou worked as a musician and actor before gaining four A levels and then coming to York in 2005 to study English and Related Literatures.
Manyou performs with Mitus at Woodstock.
Photo: Georgi Mabee
Manyou played regularly at campus events and in town with Mitus. Just before the incident he played at the Roman Baths in York and days after played at Vanburgh College at Planet V. In the spring term 2005 Mitus reached the final of Battle of the Bands.
Manyou’s defence relied heavily on character references and his barrister called his wife, several York students, his secondary school teacher, Heslington Church’s music director and his karate instructor to the stand.
In court, Manyou’s wife said: “We are happily married, we were soul mates, I’m not concerned about his loyalty.” Jack Burnell, his karate instructor, described him as “one of the brightest students I’ve ever had.”
A student who attended seminars with Manyou last year said: “I was totally shocked when I heard - he seemed like a nice enough guy, super-enthusiastic and a bit of a character really. A bunch of us from the seminar group even went to support Mitus at Battle of the Bands. It’s just shocking and a little frightening really.”
In his concluding remarks Recorder Gary Burrell QC acknowledged that “there is no evidence you pose a further risk to society and this attack was out of character and fuelled by alcohol consumption.” The judge also commended Manyou on his history of good character, but said this would not stop him imposing a long custodial sentence.
jan
I really object to your almost defence of clive manyou because he seemed of good character. Women do not report rape because they are put on trial..
Could we look at the good character of the victim please and see what she suffered and also consider her pain and good character. Did you report on that.
Jamie Merrill
Jan, do you realise that there were 3 other articles regarding this trial Including an interview with the victim? This article is meant as a profile of Clive Manyou. The comments made regarding his ‘good character’ are not the editorial opninion of Nouse but rather, as the articles states, the words of the judge.