Locations
Galt Street, Thornley, Durham, DH6
Description
A man who raped a woman and gave her herpes has been jailed for eight years.
Reece Wood, 30, forced himself on her at Teesside Crown Court despite her repeated refusals. He appeared under the influence of drugs, behaving erratically.
Prosecutor Dr Christopher Wood told the court:
“He kept asking for sex and she declined. She made it clear that wasn’t going to happen.”
The woman refused again before he raped her. She contacted a friend, disclosed what had happened, and police were called.
In her victim personal statement, she said:
“What happened to me that night changed me in ways that I’m still trying to understand. It changed how I feel, how I think, how I sleep and how I see myself.”
Wood, of Galt Street, Thornley, Durham, was convicted of rape after a retrial.
Defence lawyer Daniel Cordey said:
“He knows he will receive a significant custodial sentence. He is still a relatively young man… he has never received a custodial sentence before.”
Judge Richard Bennett told Wood:
“Your behaviour was erratic. You tried to kiss her and she was having none of it, telling you to get off and go away. She told you clearly that she had no interest in sexual activity.”
He imposed an indefinite restraining order and required Wood to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.