Latest Offenders

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A paedophile sent pornographic images to who be believed to be a 13-year-old girl and said he wanted to meet up with her. He was in fact speaking to an undercover police officer.

Mark Appleby, 53, of Monmouth, made contact with a profile named "Maisie" on the Kik messenger service in November 2022. The decoy told the defendant she was 13-years-old but he continued chatting to her.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard Appleby sent sexually explicit images to Maisie and told her he wanted to have oral sex with her. Prosecutor Paul Hewitt said the decoy told the defendant she lived in Southampton, and he told her he would come down to watch her play football and go shopping.

He went on to ask Maisie about her privates and wanted to spend the night with her in a hotel. The defendant also told her he would bring a sex toy, and spoke to her on the phone, which involved an undercover officer pretending to be a 13-year-old.

A number of dates were arranged for Appleby and Maisie to meet but in January this year, police attended the defendant's house and found the mobile phone which had been used to message the decoy. He told police he had been engaging in a "fantasy" and he was not attracted to children,

Appleby, of Cornwallis Way, Rockfield, pleaded not guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing/inciting a child to look at sexual activity, and attempting to facilitate/commission a child sex offence. He was found guilty by a jury following a trial in June. The court heard he was of previous good character.

In mitigation, Nigel Fryer said his client was no estranged from his adult children as a result of the offences, but continues to have some kind of support from his mother and sister. Mr Fryer added: "His life henceforth is going to be radically different before the discovery of his offences and has lost his reputation."

Sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams said: "In a phone call you made it clear your intention was to meet up with her and engage in sexual activity. There was significant planning and a significant disparity in age."

Appleby was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment. He was made subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for eight years.

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Detectives are seeking a man convicted of raping a woman in east London after he was sentenced in his absence.

William White, 24 (09.08.98) of Paragon Road, Hackney was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, 1 August to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment for one count of rape and one count of sexual assault by touching.

White failed to appear at the hearing and is now wanted by police. Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who knows where he is.

White was found guilty on Friday, 19 May after a nine day trial, which saw the victim-survivor bravely attend court to give evidence in front of her attacker.

White will be placed on the Sex Offender Register for life and will be managed by specialist officers when he is released from prison.

Detective Constable Jamie Merrill, the investigating officer, said: “White subjected the victim to a horrifying ordeal when she was asleep and vulnerable.

“Throughout the trial he attempted to mislead the court about his actions, but the 12 men and women of the jury correctly identified his dishonesty and convicted him unanimously of rape.

“Significant resources are being brought to bear to apprehend White so he can face justice. I urge anybody with information about White’s whereabouts to contact police immediately.”

On 17 January 2020, the victim attended White’s address in Hackney with a friend for a social gathering. She described for the court how she had trusted White, having already known him through friends.

The victim fell asleep at the address and later woke to find White raping her. She reported the incident to police on 19 January 2020.

White was arrested by detectives two days later and an extensive investigation was carried out across London and the south-east. He was charged with the offence on 20 December 2021.

DC Merrill added: “I hope that today’s sentence will bring a small measure of peace to the victim and a sense that justice has been served.”

White had also been charged with a further count of rape in relation to a second victim. He was found not guilty of that offence.

PC Rita Stepanoviene, a specialist officer who worked on the case supporting the victim-survivor, added: “I wish to thank this young lady and her close friend who came forward to provide the crucial evidence needed to convict White.

"They have both been incredibly brave, and by coming forward they have undoubtedly protected others from being targeted by this dangerous individual.

"We hope this case shows we will always take reports of this nature incredibly seriously. We would urge any others who may have been subject to these types of offences to come forward and speak to us - at the very least so that we can make sure you are supported."

Description

A Brighton man who sexually assaulted six women in public spaces in Brighton has been given a thirteen year sentence.

Hanok Zeray, 32, of Ringmer Road in Brighton, targeted lone women around Brighton city centre on multiple occasions in 2022.

An investigation was launched after a woman reported being raped in the Old Steine in Brighton on 16 April. She was supported by specialist officers and Hanok Zeray was arrested the following day on suspicion of rape.

He was released under investigation while evidence was collected to pursue a charge.

On Sunday, 22 May, two women reported being sexually assaulted in London Road and Southover Street in the early hours of the morning.

The Southover Street victim was chased by a stranger – later identified as Zeray – but managed to escape by locking herself in her flat.

Enquiries were underway to identify a suspect when, on 23 October, a third woman reported being sexually assaulted by a stranger in Elm Grove.

He harassed her persistently, but she was able to film him on her mobile phone and capture the sexual assault on film.

Officers identified Zeray from the footage and he was arrested shortly after.

He was charged with rape and three counts of sexual assault and remanded in custody.

While remanded, Zeray was charged with three additional counts of sexual assault after three more women came forward to report being attacked.

One on the 22 May in London Road, one in Gladstone Place on 19 June and a third on 23 October – five minutes before Zeray was filmed assaulting the woman in Elm Grove.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 24 February, Zeray pleaded guilty to all six counts of sexual assault and not guilty to rape. The rape charge was later discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service.

At Lewes Crown Court on Friday, 21 July, Zeray was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with an extended licence period of five years.

Detective Constable Amy Pemberton-Hill said: “Hanok Zeray was a committed offender who presented a clear danger to lone women and girls.

“I would like to thank all these women for reporting his crimes to police and supporting the investigation through to prosecution.

“The streets of Brighton and Hove are a safer place as a result.”

Superintendent Adele Tucknott, Sussex Police’s lead for violence against women and girls, said: “The behaviour shown by Hanok Zeray will not be tolerated in Sussex – from the persistent harassment of women through to the sexual assaults for which he has been jailed.

“Women and girls should be safe to walk the streets alone at any time of day or night without being targeted by predatory men.

“We have a range of measures to keep people safe at night and it is so important that any incidents are reported so we can take positive action.

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A government worker sexually assaulted a sleeping woman by tickling her feet and touching and kissing her breasts.

Martin Sharp pled guilty to the sexual assault when he appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

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Description

A rapist who crept into bed and sexually assaulted his flatmate as she slept has been jailed for 14 years.

Andrew White, 33, was found to have choked the woman, in her 30s, after she woke up in the middle of the attack at the address they shared in Lambeth and tried to pull away.

Police rushed on June 18, last year after the victim reported the rape and are now looking for any other potential survivors of White to come forward.

The victim alleges she had been asleep when she awoke to find White behind her. His genitals were exposed and her trousers had been pulled down.

When she moved away from him White then put his hands around her neck in a choke hold.

On arrest officers searched White and found him in possession of cannabis.

He was taken into custody where he strenuously denied the allegations.

Detectives gathered witness testimony, video and forensic evidence that would ultimately prove White’s guilt.

DC Mariama Connell said: “The victim lived in the same address as White but was not in any sort of relationship with him. She was asleep and White saw this as an opportunity to attack her for his own sexual gratification.

“I know she continues to live with the impact of what happened to this day. It is my hope that knowing White has received a significant custodial term will provide her some small measure of comfort.

“In the pre-sentencing report White was assessed as someone who posed a high risk of significant harm to adult women. As a result we believe it may be possible that there are more victims of White who have yet to come forward.

“I urge any potential victims to make contact with us immediately. We will listen to you, we will act and we will do everything we can to bring you justice.”

White, of Walworth Road SE1, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Monday.

He had been convicted at a hearing in May of one count of rape, one count of non-fatal strangulation and possession of a class B drug at an earlier hearing.

Description

A PAEDOPHILE has been handed a 20-year jail sentence after blackmailing a 13-year-old girl into sending him naked photographs and a 15-year-old girl into touching him.

Dean Yates, of Oxford Road, Reading, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday (July 31) to nine charges: making an indecent photograph of a child, two counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl, two counts of assault on a female, two counts of causing/inciting a 15-year-old girl into sexual activity, and two counts of causing a female to engage in sexual activity.

Judge Emma Nott sentenced the 34-year-old to a 20-year extended sentence with a 15-year custodial sentence due to the seriousness of the offences.

The incidents happened in 2019 when Yates was about 30 years old. The court heard that Yates would hack into young girls’ social media accounts to obtain private photographs of them to blackmail them into sending more.

He would pretend to be younger than he was when speaking to the girls online – using his real name and an alias.

The first set of charges relate to a girl aged 13, Yates had hacked into a 15-year-old boy's account and pretended to be him to persuade the girl to send him private photographs.

He then blackmailed the girl using the original photographs, forcing her to send more. 

Speaking to the police, the girl said: “I sent him a picture because I thought it would make him go away. 

“Then he messaged saying if I didn’t send him more he was going to send the picture to my mum and dad and put it on social media.

“So I sent him a few more photos. He said he would send them to my friends and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to send him more as I thought it would get worse.”

The 15-year-old boy whose account it actually was ended up being arrested and interviewed by police before it transpired that he had been hacked.

Following this, Yates was arrested and a second girl was interviewed about her interactions with the defendant.

She revealed that Yates had hacked her account and obtained her private photographs and blackmailed her using an alias.

He then forced her to meet up with him and engage in sexual activity while pretending that he too was being blackmailed by ‘the alias’ account. 

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, the 15-year-old girl said she feels ‘fear and distress’ when thinking about Yates and said she was ‘too young’ to deal with things at the time.

Yates will also be made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Description

A sex predator was caught and arrested on the M5 after police traced his car. Nicholas Ashby, 41, sexually assaulted a woman and attempted to rape another woman as they walked home.

The first incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, September 25 2022, when the victim was walking home alone after a night out with friends. As she walked along Bear Street, near the entrance of Barnstaple Cemetery, she noticed a car pull into a lay-by ahead of her, reports Devon Live.

Once she had passed the vehicle, she was approached by an unknown man who sexually assaulted her and put his arm across her neck causing her to momentarily pass out. When she woke, the offender returned to his vehicle.

The woman hid behind a nearby vehicle; fearful that the offender would return. It was here that the victim instinctively noted down as much detail as she could of the man and his car on her phone - an act which was commended in court.

Once at home, the police were alerted, and an investigation was launched by Barnstaple CID, while a Sexual Offences Liaison Officer was allocated to support the victim. Immediate enquiries were carried out to identify the suspect based on information the victim had given and a public media appeal was issued.

The following week, in the early hours of Sunday 2 October 2022, a woman was attacked on Beaufort Walk while walking home. The victim had been on her phone to a friend when her battery suddenly died. A short time after, she was approached from behind by a man who threatened her with a craft knife, telling her that if she made a sound, he would hurt her. Ashby pinned her to the floor, marking her with the blade and continued to attack her before running from the scene.

The victim managed to get to her home address and alert police. Specially trained officers and an ambulance crew attended.

Both cases were linked, and detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team progressed fast-track enquiries. CCTV analysis of both incidents identified a black Mercedes E class estate which was seen driving through and around the area on both nights of the attacks.

Officers received information from the forensics team stating that the DNA taken from Nicholas Ashby matched the profile to that of the DNA identified on the victim’s clothing and his arrest was sought.

His car was tracked to the M5 where traffic officers were waiting for him. Ashby was arrested on January 5 while out driving in his car and even though he provided ‘no comment’ during police interviews, he was charged and remanded for both attacks.

Footage released by Devon and Cornwall Police, which you can watch at the top of this article, shows the moment Ashby was pulled over and arrested by police. The video shows Ashby exiting his car, when a police officer says: "Okay, just to let you know, okay, you're under arrest on suspicion of rape, okay?".

The footage then shows a handcuffed Ashby being put into the back of a police car.

Ashby had previously pleaded guilty in May 2023 to the sexual assault of a woman in Barnstaple in September 2022 and the attempted rape of another woman in Barnstaple in October 2022.

With an overwhelmingly strong case presented by the prosecution team, Nicholas Ashby pleaded guilty in May 2023. Ashby was told he would serve a minimum of seven years and 11 months.

Description

A convicted sex offender from Aberdeen broke the law again on the day he was released from prison — by setting up a TikTok account.

Mark Innes, 31, had been sentenced at the city’s sheriff court in July, 2020, for four offences. Two related to sexual communication with a child while two others were revenge porn crimes.

Innes — never previously in trouble — was handed a nine-month prison term. He was also ordered, indefinitely, to comply with sex offender register requirements which barred him from setting up social media accounts.

Prosecutor Steven Ball told Carlisle Crown Court: “On July 1, 2023, Police Scotland advised local police that the defendant was staying with his girlfriend in the Carlisle area.”

Innes, said Mr Ball, usually lived in Aberdeen and was supervised there by offender managers. When local officers in Cumbria paid him a visit to check compliance, he surrendered a Samsung mobile phone.

“Officers became concerned that he had accessed a site — believed to be a child sex abuse site — via Google five times on June 12,” said Mr Ball. “He had also accessed the Telegram site that day.

“Further examination of his phone revealed that he had established a number of social media accounts. The first one, TikTok, was created on the day of his release from his recall to custody on May 9.”

Instagram had been set up on May 31 and one on another messaging app several weeks later.” The court heard Innes had been recalled to prison on licence in March, 2022, before being released on May 9 this year.

In interview, Innes admitted to using Telegram and a chat group on which adult pornography was being shared. He spoke of clicking on a link he was given with four indecent child images emerging.

“He claimed to have been disgusted with what he had seen and went back into the site as he wanted to find a way of anonymously reporting it,” said Mr Ball. “Out of the five times he went into the account, the last two times were in order to delete it.

“He couldn’t explain why he thought he would be accessing adult porn given the name of the site. He told the police that he had scrolled past some of the images but they just downloaded, by themselves. He maintained that this must have been accidental.

“He fully admitted to creating the social media accounts and not informing the police within three days of their creation; he was under the impression that he had given the police his email account details and he had used that to set up the accounts even thought they were under a user name that bore no relation to his own name.”

Innes admitted four counts of breaching notification requirements and three of making indecent images of children — including 22 classed in category A, the most serious.

After considering mitigation, Recorder Kate Bex KC imposed an immediate 16-month jail term.

Innes, latterly of Crawton Ness, Cove Bay, Aberdeen, remains subject to the notification requirements. He must also observe 19 additional conditions as part of a separate sexual harm prevention order which will run for the next 10 years.

Description

Mark Lucas was jailed for 12 years after subjecting a young girl to years of sexual abuse.

The brave victim came forward after eight years of abuse. Mark Lucas was arrested a few days later the Bedfordshire Police Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) team.

Lucas, 44, pled guilty to three counts of rape of a girl under 13 and one count of attempted rape of a girl under 13. He also pleaded guilty to ten counts of sexual assault and two counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He appeared at Luton Crown Court and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offender register.

Description

A man has been caged after he was found guilty of non-recent sexual attacks on a child. Piers Brilliant, 49, has been caged for 15 years over the abhorrent offences.

Brilliant, of Wallshead Way in Newport, Shropshire, was convicted of two counts of rape, attempted rape, 12 counts of sexual assaults against a female under 13, possession of indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornography

He was jailed on Friday, July 28, at Telford Magistrates' Court. Brilliant will also be on the sex offender register for life.

Sergeant Tim Street, of West Mercia Police, said: "We welcome the sentence that was handed to Brilliant by the judge, and that he will rightly spend time in prison for his crimes.

"I’d like to commend the victim for their courage in coming forward to report what Brilliant has done, and I hope this helps to show that we take all reports of rape and sexual assault seriously and will thoroughly investigate them regardless of how long ago they took place."

A spokesperson for the force added: "If you feel you are, or have been, a victim of any sexual offence you can report it to us online, on 101 or via West Mercia's Victim Advice Line on 0800 952 3000 or visit www.victimadviceline.org.uk. This is a free, independent and confidential support service. In an emergency always dial 999.

"If you do not feel comfortable speaking to police officers, you can contact a Rape Crisis Centre which specialises in helping victims of rape and sexual assault - including providing medical care and counselling. For information and details on how to contact or refer please visit Rape Crisis England & Wales."

Description

A man who broke into an Oldham care home and tried to rape an elderly woman has been jailed.

Jake Astley, of Sharples Hall Street, Oldham, appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday (July 31) after pleading guilty to attempted rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in May.

Prosecution counsel Rachel Faux told the court that in the early hours of January 1 this year, Astley, 22, tried to gain entry into a care home in Oldham care home by kicking a door, before eventually entering through a faulty door at around 2.30am.

Three employees became aware of Astley's trespassing but he began shouting and threatening them while holding a butter knife, forcing the staff to hide and call the police.

When police arrived, Astley had locked himself inside a resident's room, but police managed to gain access through a master key.

When they entered, Astley was found half-naked while his elderly victim was lying in bed with significant injuries to her head and face, including bruising and a cut which had caused bleeding.

The victim is not able to verbally communicate and suffers with dementia and partial paralysis, the court heard.

During bodycam footage of the arrest, which was played in court, Astley could be heard screaming that he had been "forced to do it" by the victim.

In a police interview, Astley said he had been drinking from 5am the previous day and had taken cocaine, causing him to have no recollection of the incident.

The victim's granddaughter read out a victim impact statement to the court, saying the victim used to be "happy" but has now become "withdrawn" and no longer eats food, causing her to be hospitalised.

The woman said she will "remember the trauma" of the day she visited the victim in the hospital for the rest of her life.

She added: "Jake Astley has not just destroyed my grandma's life but mine and my family's lives.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to get over the trauma of this."

Defending, Stuart Neale, said it appeared that Astley was "in the midst of a psychotic episode" at the time of the incident and that he had no recollection of the events having been "off his head".

He said Astley feels deep and genuine remorse and now "hates himself" for his actions which he described as "horrible", before adding that Astley has expressed suicidal thoughts.

Mr Neale said Astley's history of drinking and taking drugs had begun during his teenage years, saying it is "difficult to imagine a worse adolescence" than the one Astley experienced.

A psychiatric report said that Astley had a history of mental illness.

When passing sentence, Judge Bernadette Baxter said the report had ruled out that Astley was having a psychotic episode at the time of the incident.

Judge Baxter said to Astley: "You have quite simply devastated [the victim's] final years and these years for her whole family.

"The consequences of your offending will stay with them forever."

Judge Baxter sentenced Astley to 10-and-a-half years in prison, which he will serve at least two thirds of before he can be referred to a parole board for release, as well as an extended licence period of three years.

Astley was also placed on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Detective Constable Sharon Harper of GMP’s Oldham district said: “The crimes that Jake Astley committed that night were horrific and we would like to thank the victim, her loved ones and the care home staff for their continued support throughout our investigations. This was no doubt a long and distressing investigation for the victim and her loved ones.

“Jake Astley – whilst under the influence of drugs and alcohol - was able to gain access to the premises and arrogantly and knowingly walk through the care home to commit crime where vulnerable adults resided whilst he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

“He not only put the care home’s residents and staff through danger by threatening them with a knife and chasing them through their place of work or their home with a knife, but he then committed further atrocious crimes to a vulnerable elderly woman.

“Astley knowingly entered the victim’s bedroom, preyed upon her vulnerabilities, and began to assault and sexually assault her. His crimes are horrific and his lack of remorse for the victim and her welfare is despicable. Astley is a dangerous individual who fully deserves the sentence imposed on him.

“We also completely understand that this case taking place in an assisted living/care home environment will cause some concern within the local community.

“We would like to assure members of the public that incidents like these are extremely rare, and we are working in collaboration with local authorities, care homes and support organisations to ensure that vulnerable people and residents are better protected and supported from all partners including GMP.

“This case demonstrates the seriousness with which Greater Manchester Police deal with report of sexual assaults, including those committed against women and girls. We will believe you; we will support you and we will do everything we can to bring an offender to justice.”

Description

A sick Brighouse man who raped a young girl has been put behind bars.

Benny Adams, 37, was found guilty of two counts of rape and four other sexual offences after a trial at Bradford Crown Court in April this year. The girl has been left suffering nightmares of the abuse, and her mum says she is now "very damaged" and cannot live the life of a normal child.

It was said the girl had told Adams that "it hurt" while he was abusing her and explained to officers what had happened by using a body map and doll.

The court heard on Monday that the young girl - who must not be named for legal reasons - has nightmares where Adams gets into her bed and has "red eyes." In a statement read to the court, her mother said: “I worry about what the future holds for (her) and how it will affect her in the future."

Anastasis Tasou, for Adams, told the court he will be spending a "very long time" in prison, and it would change he rest of his life. As he jailed Adams for 13 years for the abuse which happened in 2019, Recorder Doig told him: “She said she told you it hurt but you didn’t listen."

He said he had no doubt that the offending had had a significant impact on the girl.

Adams will now have to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life and he will have to comply with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order following his his release after serving at least two thirds of his 13-year jail term.

Description

An ex-doctor who sexually assaulted a patient after visiting her at home has been jailed for 18 months for the offence.

Simon Abraham, 34, of Penrith Way, Eastbourne, was working at Eastbourne District General Hospital when he contacted the female patient, who had been discharged after treatment.

Abraham had told the woman that he had a call from a colleague who was "concerned about her condition". The offender then said that he had been trained in specialist massage in India for two years and could visit her.

She agreed to his visit but during the massage he sexually assaulted her. He left when a visitor came to the house, but continued to phone her afterwards.

The patient then contacted the hospital who advised her that they would investigate, but she should also contact police. An investigation was launched and Abraham was arrested.

After a four day trial at Chichester Crown Court on May 26, Abraham was found guilty of sexual assault. He was sentenced on July 14 to 18 months in prison, with nine months custodial and nine months on licence.

The court also heard how he will be placed on the sex offenders' register for ten years and is subject to a five year restraining order to protect the victim from contact by him. DC Jo Gledhill said: "Abraham took advantage of the victim's pain, fraudulently accessing her patient details even though he wasn't officially treating her, and then visiting her when he finished work, claiming that he could massage her headache away.

"When he was arrested, he denied that it happened at all, but then asked for a further interview where he admitted going to her house, but did not sexually touch her. We will always take reports of this nature very seriously and specially trained officers will deal with your call. If you have been sexually assaulted, please contact us and we will investigate."

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A 40-year-old man who secretly communicated with a 14-year-old girl after giving her a mobile phone and met up with her in a park has been jailed for 21 months.

Sentencing Daniel Stacey at Ipswich Crown Court, Judge Emma Peters said he’d met up with the schoolgirl six times over a two week period in September last year.

She said Stacey had previous convictions for making indecent images and it was clear that he had a sexual interest in young children which was “deeply troubling”.

Judge Peters accepted his physical contact with the victim was restricted to holding her hand and attempting to kiss and hug her.

However, she said Stacey had told the girl he loved her which was “deeply inappropriate” in view of the fact she was 14 and he was 40.

Judge Peters said Stacey had given the girl a mobile phone which she used to contact him and he gad also given her a computer game.

The police were contacted after her mother discovered the phone and Stacey had gone to the family phone and asked the girl’s mother to give him back the device and not to contact the police.

Stacey, of Sproughton Court, Ipswich, admitted meeting a child following sexual grooming and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

He was jailed for 21 months and banned from contacting the victim and her family indefinitely.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for the same period.

The court heard that Stacey, who was given a community order in 2008 for making indecent images of children, had been in custody for ten months which was the equivalent of a 20-month prison sentence.

Charles Myatt, for Stacey, said his client had some learning difficulties and was emotionally immature.

He said because of his emotional immaturity he was drawn to people chronologically younger than him and he wasn’t a predatory paedophile.

Description

A man who raped a woman he met on a night out has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years.

Joseph Faulkner, 40, had claimed during his trial that any sexual activity with his victim had been consensual, but that they had not had sex as the amount of alcohol he had drunk impeded his biological functioning.

Jurors at Oxford Crown Court rejected his defence in May, convicting him of rape and two other counts of sexual assault.

In an impact statement read to his sentencing hearing by prosecutor Matthew Walsh on Thursday (July 27), the victim said she hoped the case would ensure Faulkner did not commit such a ‘horrific offence’ in the future.

She was also hopeful that she would now ‘finally be able to move forward with my life’.

Faulkner, of Park Close, North Leigh, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years by Judge Maria Lamb, who told him that he would serve two-thirds of that sentence behind bars before being eligible for release.

“That night I am satisfied your victim had made it plain to you on more than one occasion that she had no sexual interest in you whatsoever,” Judge Lamb said.

“Unfortunately, you took it upon yourself to take advantage of the situation which found you in the same quarters as [your victim] when she was ready to go to bed.

“I am quite sure, having reminded myself of the evidence, that she was either asleep or suffering the effects of alcohol and she is properly to be regarded on the [legal] authorities as particularly vulnerable due to her personal circumstances.”

The judge added: “Very significant harm has been suffered by your victim.”

The woman had been taking anti-depressant medication, there were repercussions with her then boyfriend, and it was said to have ‘spoilt her enjoyment of her pregnancies’, Judge Lamb said.

In May, jurors heard that the victim and the defendant met during a night out at the Woodman pub in North Leigh in 2019.

He returned with her to a flat, where he made advances towards her. She pretended to be asleep and even feigned snores in order to put Faulkner off, the court heard.

In mitigation, Rónán McCann told the judge on Thursday that his client and the man’s family had made a ‘number of attempts’ at writing letters to the judge.

“Words cannot express the impact upon them with regards to the circumstances we are now in today,” the barrister said. Faulkner very concerned for his mother, who suffered ill-health.

As a result of the jail term imposed, the defendant will remain on the sex offender register for life.