Thomas Black 30

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A RAPIST who sexually assaulted a woman in a vulnerable state on Christmas Day before fleeing a fatal crash on the A127 has been jailed.

Thomas Black, 30 of Middle Street, Nazeing appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday where he was jailed for eight years after admitting multiple sexual offences including rape.

An investigation was launched on December 25, 2019, after police were called to an address in Westcliff in the early hours following concerns for a woman. Enquiries revealed the woman had been sexually assaulted while in a vulnerable state.

Later that same day, after he had "taken a cocktail of drink and drugs", according to an inquest, Black hit a pedestrian as they crossed the A127 in a fatal crash near the Dick Turpin pub.

Sentencing him in 2021, the magistrates' bench said the victim, Christian Taylor, 36, from Wickford, "may have survived had the defendant stopped".

The scene - the victim's body was not found until two days after the Christmas Day crash (Image: File photo)

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said there was not enough evidence to support him being charged with causing death by dangerous driving, and Black was charged with and admitted failing to stop and failing to report a crash. He was given four months in jail suspended for a year and 100 hours of unpaid work.

Black was arrested on suspicion of rape on Boxing Day of 2019 at his home address. In interview, Black denied his actions and he was released on bail while enquiries continued.

This included his phone being downloaded, which revealed several private sexual images of the victim, which had been taken without her consent and shared into a group chat.

Black was subsequently charged with rape of a woman over the age of 16 and sexual assault.

Despite initially pleading not guilty, Black changed his plea to guilty on the first day of the trial on November 20.

Speaking after the sentence, the victim described the devastating impact that Black’s crimes have had on her: “The entire investigation was tough and the embarrassment, degradation, anxiety and stress that this has caused me cannot be measured. His actions impacted my life in the worst way for four years and will remain with me forever.

“Detective Constable Jackie Spooner and Mandy Moxon from the investigation team could not have been any more supportive.

“DC Spooner left nothing unturned and I felt like she was determined to get justice for me. The team made me feel calm and at ease and their mannerisms were perfect in helping me throughout the difficult process.

“About three years into the investigation, I wanted to stop the whole thing. DC Spooner encouraged me to push on. She never gave up on me, I felt so protected.

“The prolonged amount of time it has taken to get justice has taken its toll on me.

“Moving forward, I have to deal with the continued anxiety, memories of this ordeal and also with my mistrust in men which I did not suffer from before this awful experience.

“Despite my horrendous ordeal, I’m so grateful for the support I received and I hope that this has inspired other victims, who haven’t found the strength to come forward yet to reach out and report. You will not be alone.”