Rapist stalked his victim after being released on bail
AMAN who raped a woman following a party went on to harass and stalk his victim after being released on police bail, a court has heard.
Harvey Blyth sent the woman a series of “vile” messages via social media, and turned up at a place where he knew she’d be.
When police searched 20-year-old Blyth’s phone they found videos of children being sexually abused, that he had made “disturbing” internet searches, and that he had shared a private sexual video of a woman.
Swansea Crown Court heard Blyth has significant mental health and psychological issues which have largely gone untreated, and that a probation officer determined that he should be categorised as a dangerous offender. As the defendant was given a 10-year extended sentence, he told the judge: “I’m a bit upset about that. I was expecting three or four years”.
Craig Jones, prosecuting, told the court that after the rape Blyth had performed a sex act over his victim.
The incident was reported to the police and the defendant was arrested and interviewed, and then released on conditional police bail.
The prosecutor said Blyth then “embarked on a campaign of what could properly be called harassment” which included sending “vile” and abusive messages to his victim.
The court heard Blyth also went to try to see her. Blyth was arrested and interviewed about his breach of bail conditions, and then released – and went back to harassing his victim.
The court heard the defendant was arrested again, and while being held in Swansea Central police station subjected an officer to racist abuse.
Following this arrest a number of Blyth’s phones and other devices were seized, and officers found three videos showing boys aged between 10 and 14 being sexually abused, as well as a video showing bestiality.
An examination of his internet history showed the defendant had been making searches including “is rape okay”. Police also found that Blyth had sent an intimate video which he had surreptitiously shot to somebody else.
In an impact statement, the rape victim said the experience had left her feeling “wrecked inside”.
The court heard the woman whose video Blyth shared now feels “haunted” by the idea that the footage “may still be out there”.
In his statement, the officer who the defendant racially abused said he had been distressed about what happened in front of his colleagues.
Harvey Kristian Blyth, of Beauchamp Walk, Gorseinon, Swansea, had previously been convicted at trial of rape and had pleaded guilty to disclosing a private video, stalking, making – that is possessing – indecent images of Category A, possession of extreme pornography, and racially aggravated disorder when he appeared in the dock via videolink for sentencing.
Georgina Buckley, for Blyth, said there was a letter from the defendant’s parents before the court, as well as psychiatric and psychological reports which set out his mental health issues. The barrister said for the first time the defendant was now receiving medication, and that Blyth’s parents had seen a “remarkable change” in him as a result.
Judge Geraint Walters made Blyth the subject of a 10-year extended sentence comprising seven years in custody followed by a three-year extended licence. The defendant can apply for release after serving two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence but it will be for the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be released. Blyth will be a registered sex offender for the result of his life.