Controlling rapist left woman ‘living in fear’
JAILED FOR 14 YEARS FOR HORROR ATTACKS
AN “incredibly volatile and dangerous” rapist has been jailed for 14 years after repeated attacks on a woman left her living in fear.
James Wilson, 22, physically and mentally abused the woman for more than five years, often punching and kicking her while he was under the influence of drugs.
His attacks escalated to the point that he regularly subjected the woman to rape and sexual assaults. Teesside Crown Court heard that Wilson’s attacks included:
n Leaving the woman with a fractured foot after an attack with a baseball bat;
n Subjecting the woman to rape and sexual assaults;
n Threatening to “shoot her dead” if she contacted police;
n Wearing a pyramid ring to maximum injury;
n Posting intimate pictures of her on
inflict social media.
The court heard that Wilson, of Honeypot Lane in Darlington, controlled the young woman’s life to the point where she was left “living in fear of what he would do next.”
He stopped her from seeing her family and controlled “every aspect of her life”
He even subjected the woman’s family to attacks and smashed the windows of her parents’ house on several occasions.
Even after the woman secured a restraining order against him, Wilson continued his reign of abuse.
Wilson was arrested in January last year and charged with several offences, including rape, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour, harassment, disclosing or threatening to disclose private sexual photos with intent to cause distress, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He denied the offences but was found guilty of all counts following a crown court trial.
Appearing in court on Friday, he was sentenced to a total of 14 years
In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “The abuse I suffered has affected me in many ways ... I have anxiety, depression and I am currently going through a diagnosis of PTSD.
“I found it hard to realise that somebody that loved me could and would hurt me.”
Officers from Darlington Safeguarding Team said: “This young woman and her family have suffered extensive abuse – both physically and mentally – at the hands of Wilson.
“I hope this result will allow the woman and her family to move on and start to rebuild their lives.”