Frank Scott, 48, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 22 years at Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday (November 9) for raping two vulnerable people in Manchester. He will spend a further eight years on extended licence upon release.
Greater Manchester Police released body cam footage showing the moment Scott was arrested in Manchester city centre, tears in his eyes and repeatedly saying "you're messing" as an officer told him he was being arrested on suspicion of rape. He was held on suspicion of plying a woman with drink before raping her.
Scott was released on bail and went on to drug and rape a second victim in Sackville Gardens, close to the scene of his first attack, six months later. His two tearful victims held hands in court as he was jailed.
First attack in Chorlton Street car park
Prosecutor Jessica Foster said Scott targeted his first victim in June 2025 as she made her way home from a night out. Struggling to cope following a bereavement, the woman had been "self-medicating" with alcohol and crack cocaine, the court heard. She became separated from friends and was disorientated when Scott approached her offering directions.
Having agreed she could use his crack pipe, Scott took her to the car park on Chorlton Street where he was sleeping rough. He pinned the woman down and forced her to drink vodka, then sexually assaulted her before raping and orally raping her. He dragged her along the floor as she tried to escape and "smashed" her head on the concrete. The woman hit him over the head and ran away; naked, she was eventually helped by passers-by. She suffered 67 injuries. Scott was arrested and bailed pending further enquiries, having denied the offences.
Second attack in Sackville Gardens
Less than six months later, in November last year, he struck again at nearby Sackville Gardens. A man sleeping rough was offered what he believed was a cigarette by Scott; it was actually crack cocaine. "Everything slowed down," Ms Foster said. "When he came to, he was in a different part of the gardens and there was a crack pipe in his mouth. The defendant told him to 'kiss it, just f***ing kiss it'."
Scott groped and orally raped the man, telling him to "shut the f*** up" when he screamed. He was arrested four days later and denied the offences.
Victims describe lasting harm
In a statement, the woman said she "thought [she] would never get out of that car park", adding: "I was begging people for help and lots of passers-by ignored me. I thought help would come, but it never did." She said she struggles to sleep and has panic attacks, and feels "confused about how someone could do that".
The male victim said he has been left with PTSD and that his drinking habit has worsened. "Sometimes I can still smell [Scott]," he said. "It takes me back and I am physically sick. I am constantly on edge." He added: "I've been trying to block out that night. Sometimes I am angry at myself. But it's Frank Scott's fault this has happened."
Judge flags bail concerns
Judge Jenny Lester-Ashworth said the fact Scott carried out the second attack while on police bail for the first "was of considerable public concern". "It is not for me to make findings, but perhaps the circumstances should be reviewed to see if lessons can be learned," she added.
Scott has 54 previous convictions for 91 offences, none sexual in nature but several for assault against emergency workers, threatening behaviour and arson. Defence barrister Stuart Duke said Scott's "only mitigation" was "sparing the victims the ordeal of a trial", having pleaded guilty to two counts of oral rape and one count of rape on the day of a scheduled trial this summer.
Jailing him as a "dangerous predator", the judge told Scott: "You told the first victim that she would not get away and nobody would find her. Her vulnerability, running away naked, is striking in CCTV footage. You took her dignity from her. She has regained it in reporting you to police and being prepared to give evidence against you." She added: "The second victim blames himself at times. But drink or drug use never excuses rape or transfers responsibility from offender to victim."
After the hearing, Detective Constable Coles said: "These offences demonstrate a pattern of predatory behaviour, with Scott targeting vulnerable individuals and exploiting situations where victims were isolated or under the influence." He thanked both victims for their bravery, adding: "Their evidence was crucial to securing these convictions and ensuring a dangerous offender has been brought to justice."
