Hetton Man Jailed For Rape and Threatening to Petrol Bomb His Victim

A Hetton rapist has been jailed after his victim bravely recorded the attack on her phone as evidence.

Ryan Thompson, 25, had “demanded” sex from the woman before proceeding to rape her in July.

But the woman managed to record Thompson’s monstrous attack on her phone – which has now put him behind bars for seven years.

Upon listening to the recording, Durham County Court heard him taunting the woman: “Are you going to cry rape?”

Later, he then sent his victim a series of threats, threatening a “petrol bombing” attack.

Prosecution Lawyer Mr. Dodds told the court that the victim was vulnerable, having been “sexually assaulted twice before”.

In a victim impact statement, which was read out to the court, the woman said Thompson’s attack left her “disgusted” and “humiliated”, while also fearing for her safety.

She added she now suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, with the attack having had a severe impact on her mental health.

The court heard that Thompson, of Maudlin Street, Hetton, committed the rape despite still serving a community order for previous violent offenses.

Thompson’s defence barrister, Helen Towers, told the court that he has since shown a “degree of clarity” and “expressed remorse” for the offence.

She said he had shown “victim empathy” and was not “minimizing” his behaviour.

Judge Ray Singh said the rape was “humiliating and degrading” to the “brave” victim and jailed Thompson for seven years.

He also made him subject of an indefinite restraining order and was put on the sex offenders’ register for life.