A RAPIST who ignored his victim repeatedly telling him “no” has been jailed for eight years.

Connor Curtis was put behind bars by a judge at Bournemouth Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

The court heard Curtis, of Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, was told “no” multiple times by his victim during one of the incidents but continued to carry out his sickening act.

In sentencing the 24-year-old at a hearing on Wednesday, April 20, Recorder Neil Millard said: “Mr Curtis, it should take no one to tell you that no means no.”

Prosecuting, Gemma White said a woman reported to police that she had been raped by the defendant and officers launched an investigation.

In interview, Curtis denied the offending, stating that the sex was consensual.

He pleaded not guilty to the allegations at a Bournemouth Crown Court hearing in October last year, with a trial due to take place at the end of last month.

However, in late January he communicated guilty pleas through his legal team.

Referencing a victim impact statement, Ms White said the woman had not slept well since Curtis’ offending.

The court heard she suffered nightmares and flashbacks, and she did not feel comfortable going out on her own.

The defendant had no previous convictions and an unrelated caution for a theft matter.

Richard Martin, representing Curtis, said his client’s guilty pleas had saved the victim from a “great deal of trauma” involved in giving evidence at trial.

Mr Martin said the defendant had a diagnosed mental health illness, which related to the way he was treated in his childhood. This had left him “scarred and damaged”, Mr Martin said.

He described Curtis as a young man who is “complicated”, “complex” and for the “usual reasons” had “fallen somewhat through the floorboards” for getting treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mr Martin told the court the offender had struggled to face up to what he did, but added that he accepted the three offences he was being sentenced for and he had a “degree of remorse”.

The court heard Curtis had been homeless for a number of years. He was willing to engage and work to address his problems.

“I ask the court to give him hope that he can do everything he can to rehabilitate himself,” said Mr Martin.

Recorder Millard said he had taken into account the defendant’s age, his immaturity and his mental health difficulties.

The judge said ongoing harm had been caused to the victim as a result of the defendant’s actions.

Curtis was placed on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life. He will not be legible for release from prison until he has served two-thirds of his sentence.

Victims can report sexual offences to their local police on 101 or call 999 if they are in immediate danger.

Anyone who has been affected by sexual violence and would like confidential advice and support can call the Dorset Sexual Trauma and Recovery Services (STARS Dorset) Helpline on 01202 308855 or visit www.starsdorset.org

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