Golf course rapist, 23, is jailed for sex attack on woman
Craig Loveridge, of Leek, is now behind bars after forcing himself on his victim
A LEEK man who raped a woman at a secluded spot has been jailed.
Craig Loveridge kissed his victim at the long-abandoned Keele Golf Club, near Newcastle.
Despite resisting his advances, he went to kiss her again.
The 23-year-old then touched her breasts but she said, ‘No,’ and moved his hand away.
The attack escalated to the point where he touched her private parts despite her kicking out and repeatedly telling him, ‘No.’
He then carried out the sex attack before pulling up his trousers and walking off.
Now Loveridge, who has no previous convictions, was jailed for 45 months at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu said Loveridge met the woman at Keele Golf Course near Newcastle on November 29, 2018.
Mr Harpreet said: “He tried to kiss her. She said, ‘No.’
“He went to kiss her again. He put his hand down her top. She said, ‘No.’ She told him to stop. She moved his hand away.
“He kissed her. She told him she did not wish to do it. She moved his hand away.
“He touched her private area. She attempted to move his arm. He would not allow himself to be moved. She said,
‘No’ and, ‘I do not want to do this.’ She attempted to fight but in vain.
“She kicked out. She had begun to cry. He raped her before walking off.
The victim later told her mum she had been raped and the defendant’s DNA was found on her underwear.
In a victim statement the woman said the attack has had a detrimental effect on her mental health and on one occasion she took an overdose of paracetamol.
She made it plain she was not consenting. She told you to stop and physically resisted
Loveridge, of Cruso Street, Leek, pleaded guilty to rape. Barry White, mitigating, said the defendant is genuinely remorseful and is scared he is capable of such an offence.
Mr White added: “He appreciates the sentence will be a custodial sentence and he will receive a degree of rehabilitation that is needed.”
Judge Paul Glenn said: “She made it plain she was not consenting. She told you to stop and physically resisted. “You ignored her. You raped her. You did up your trousers and walked off. She made a prompt complaint before confiding in her mother later that evening.
“She has suffered with her mental health. She self-harmed and attempted an overdose. You have blighted her life.
“I acknowledge you are remorseful. But you remain either unable or unwilling to explain why you acted as you did.”
Loveridge was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and was barred from a range of activities involving children and vulnerable adults.
Judge