Locations
Dorset Avenue, Birtley, Chester Le Street, Gateshead, DH3
Description
A rapist was jailed after police caught him in the act of attacking a woman he had met that day.
Paul Batey, 35, of Dorset Avenue, Birtley, Gateshead, was found naked and forcing himself on the victim when officers arrived at his home after she dialled 999.
The court heard the pair had been drinking alcohol before Batey took her upstairs under the guise of showing her his record decks, where he launched the attack, reports Chronicle Live.
Prosecutor Vince Ward told the court:
“The operator could hear her crying and him shouting in the background. The police attended very promptly and it appears they interrupted the offence.”
“She begged him to stop and was crying but that didn’t deter him. He was in the process of raping her when the police arrived at the door.”
Batey shouted “f*** off” at officers from the window before they entered and arrested him. He then pushed, punched and kicked a police constable.
The victim said she felt “dirty” for days afterwards, despite repeated baths and showers, and became extremely suicidal. She had made more than one attempt on her life; the offence made those feelings worse.
Batey, who had previous convictions but none for sexual offences, pleaded guilty to rape and assaulting an emergency worker.
He was jailed for five years, ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and given a restraining order.
Defence solicitor Richard Herrmann said:
“The best mitigation he has got is that he is entitled to some credit for holding his hands up and admitting this and not putting anyone through the ordeal of a trial.”