Locations
Cottingham Road, Hull, East Riding Of Yorkshire, HU6
Description
He previously raped a female cyclist on her way home from work in Hull
A notorious Hull rapist struck again and sexually assaulted a woman and beat her with a metal bar after he was released from prison.
Evil Phillip Weaver was jailed for six years for raping a woman after he pounced on her as she cycled to work in east Hull in August 2015. Weaver targeted the woman on a cycle path running between Chamberlain Road and Leads Road. He followed her, before pulling her off her bike and raping her, Hull Crown Court heard.
He was released from prison after serving his sentence, only to strike again. This time he sexually assaulted another woman and hit her with a metal bar, causing injuries to her face.
Weaver, 32, of Cottingham Road, Hull, admitted to sexual assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and the breach of his sexual offender notification requirements, when he appeared at Hull Crown Court on Monday.
In a victim impact statement read out to the court, the woman said: "If he had hit me in the wrong place, I could have died. It is hard to wrap my head around that."
Nick Peacock, mitigating told the court the defendant initially pleaded not guilty, but ended up pleading guilty before the trial was meant to be held in June this year. Judge Mark Bury described Weaver as dangerous and aggressive and said he posed a "significant risk of harm" to women.
He was jailed for five years and also handed an extended four-year licence which will start after his release. Detective Constable Annabel Devall, from Humberside Police, said: "The courage and bravery that this victim has shown throughout the entirety of this investigation has been incredible. This dangerous offender caused the victim great physical and mental harm.
"I know nothing will take away the suffering that Weaver has caused the victim, but I hope the outcome at court will provide them with some closure in knowing that he is now behind bars and unable to attack anyone else.
If you have been the victim of sexual violence, there are various ways you can report it to the police. You can speak to independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, or you can report directly through our 101 number, or 999 in an emergency.
You will be listened to. We will work with you and we will continue to take action against offenders.