Locations
Church Road, Bulmer, Sudbury, Essex, CO10
Description
A "manipulative" man who subjected a woman to years of coercive control and multiple rapes has been jailed for 13 years.
Danny Foley, who was previously convicted in April of three counts of rape, one count of non-fatal strangulation, and one count of perverting the course of justice, was described by Mr Recorder Jeremy Benson as a dangerous offender who is a serious risk to the public.
Foley, of Church Road, Bulmer also pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour over a five-year period against the victim.
The court heard harrowing details of the abuse, including how Foley returned home drunk in the early hours and violently raped the victim while her young child was asleep in the house.
On another occasion, the 35-year-old threatened to kill himself with a knife unless the victim agreed to have sex with him.
“You are a manipulative individual,” said Mr Recorder Benson. “There was additional degradation and humiliation involved."
In one incident, Foley forced the victim to write a letter downplaying his actions before she went to the police, and encouraged her to maintain contact with him while he was on remand.
The court also heard that Foley has a history of violence, including a 2020 battery offence against a previous partner, and a suspended sentence in 2022 for coercive and controlling behaviour towards another former partner.
Despite having the opportunity to engage with probation officers to assist the court with a pre-sentence report on his risk to the public, Foley refused to cooperate.
“That is an example of the way in which you attempt to manipulate things,” said the judge.
Foley was handed a 13-year custodial sentence with a four-year extended licence period, meaning he could be recalled to prison after release if he poses a further risk.
He was also made subject to a restraining order until further notice and ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.