An "arrogant" off-shore worker who raped a woman and then bragged about it to his golf mates the next day has been jailed for ten years.
Shaun Graham, 40, of Stafford Close, Jarrow, South Tyneside, denied rape, sexual assault and intentional strangulation, claiming the victim had consented, but was convicted by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.
Court hears of victim's ordeal
Recorder Nicholas Lumley KC jailed Graham for ten years, ordered him to sign the sex offenders register for life and praised the bravery of the victim in speaking out. The recorder told Graham: "You clearly thought you had got away with it, bragged to your golf mates the next day but you knew what you had done."
"You subjected her to further humiliation this week by making her give evidence against you. It demonstrates your arrogance and complete lack of empathy or remorse." Recorder Lumley said the victim was "brave" and showed great courage throughout what she has been through.
Victim's impact statement
In an impact statement read in court, the victim said what happened to her has changed her life forever. She said: "During what happened to me that night, there were moments when I genuinely believed I might not make it out alive."
"I cannot properly put into words what it feels like to believe that you might die. In those moments, all I could think about were my family and the possibility that I might never see them again."
Directly addressing Graham, she said: "You did not hurt me for just one night. I have lived with the consequences every day since. The consequences of your actions have lasted for years already."
Police response
David Callan, defending, said there is "two sides" to Graham's character and he has a good work record. After the case, Detective Constable Kerry Kane, of Northumbria Police, said: "Shaun Graham subjected this woman to a vile assault which, in her own words, has completely changed her life. My first thoughts always are with her – she has shown such courage from that initial report to police all the way through to the sentencing hearing today."
Det Con Kane added: "This case is a stark reminder to those who do not understand that no means no – lack of consent means you are a rapist. Day-in-day out we put these people before the courts and bring them to justice – all on our mission to protecting the vulnerable people in our communities."
