A crack fuelled rapist who attacked four women over the space of a few hours treated his victims ‘like pieces of meat’ and ‘less than human’.
Stuart Thomson has been jailed for life for a ‘campaign of rape’ committed in Manchester city centre. The 34-year-old went out armed with a knife and targeted sex workers on the streets behind Piccadilly station, after using crack cocaine.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Thomson approached the women and discussed sexual services for payment, before producing a knife and raping them. He raped three women, and attempted to rape a fourth.
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One woman managed to get away after Thomson had brandished his knife. The attacks all occurred within a three hour period on the night of January 30 last year.
Thomson, who was living in a hostel at the time, robbed his final victim of her handbag, leaving her without a mobile phone to raise the alarm. “You treated each of these women like pieces of meat, as less than human,” Judge Hilary Manley told Thomson.
“Your contempt for each of them was plainly evident throughout the trial and particularly when you gave evidence. I am wholly satisfied that you deliberately targeted sex workers as your victims, because you knew that you could get them isolated and alone in a quiet location in order to rape them, and also because you were cynically confident that they would be less likely to go to the police, and that even if they did find the courage and strength to do so, that they would be less likely to be believed.”
The judge said Thomson had committed sexual offences in the past. She told him: “You have a deep-seated and enduring attraction towards dominating, overpowering and sexually humiliating females.”
After the hearing, detectives paid tribute to the bravery of the victims in reporting their ordeals. In court, the judge said of them: “Each clearly felt that the system was stacked against them, that they would not be believed, a belief you cynically shared. Each clearly showed the signs of the terror, distress and devastation they had experienced at your hands.”
Judge Manley said she was ‘wholly satisfied’ that Thomson was a dangerous offender. She told him: “You have no remorse at all, and no insight. I am wholly satisfied that you present a very grave and enduring danger towards all females, fuelled by an intense hatred towards them and that this risk has escalated and continues to escalate. You continue to deny the offences, and you seek to portray your victims as liars.
“You are still aged only 34, and it is doubtful whether you will ever cease to present a serious risk towards females. I am of the firm view that the level of danger you pose to the public is extremely high, and there is no reliable estimate of the length of time you will remain a danger.”
Thomson was handed a life sentence, and ordered to serve a minimum term of 18 years in prison. He has to satisfy the Parole Board that he is safe to be released before he can be freed.
Thomson, of Buxton Road, Stockport, was found guilty of three counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, three counts of threatening a person with a knife, one count of sexual assault and one count of possessing a bladed article. He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery.
‘He is a dangerous sexual predator’
After the hearing, Detective Sergeant Jennifer Savazzi, from GMP’s Longsight Criminal Investigations Department said: “It’s clear that Stuart Thomson is a dangerous sexual predator. He forcibly imposed himself upon these women in a violent and callous way with no consideration for the damage he was doing to them.
“I would like to praise our victims and survivors who have shown extraordinary courage throughout and have done all they can to assist the investigation and prosecution, it is their courage which has got us here today. This has been a lengthy and difficult process for them, and I am full of admiration for the courage and tenacity they have shown.
“By not accepting responsibility, Thompson has forced them to relive their pain throughout this trial. The harm offenders like Thomson cause are incalculable, but I hope this result goes some way in reassuring our victims, survivors, and members of the public that a dangerous man is off our streets.”
Joanne Lovick, Senior Crown Prosecutor for Crown Porsecution Service North West, said: “Thomson targeted lone women and lured them to a secluded location where he raped them at knifepoint. He showed no remorse for the trauma he inflicted with his brutal crimes, which have left a lasting impact on the women he attacked.
“Even though Thomson denied his guilt and put the women through the pain of a trial, the Crown Prosecution Service arranged for each of the victims to give their evidence in the way that was best for them – to minimise the impact of having to relive their ordeal.
“I would like to offer my deepest thanks to the women who have supported the prosecution and helped the CPS and Greater Manchester Police bring Thomson to justice.”