SEDGEFIELD RAPIST JAILED FOR CRIMES AGAINST THREE WOMEN
A 'deeply disturbed' man who raped three women has been jailed for his 'heinous' crimes.Although Christopher Bell, also known as Christopher Ward, finally admitted the offences on the second day of his trial last month, a judge said it was "deeply disturbing" that he later told Probation workers he did not think anything he did was wrong.
Bell, 33, of Maple Grove, Sedgefield, appeared before Durham Crown Court for sentence for six counts of rape, one of strangulation and one of assault by penetration.
He admitted the crimes after two of his victims had given evidence, with the third waiting to do so.
Other charges he was facing were to be left on the file after the prosecution accepted his guilty pleas to the eight counts admitted.
All three victims were in court on Friday (September 26) to give their impact statements and watch Bell being sentenced.
The victims described the long-lasting effects Bell’s offending had on them.
One was only a teenager when subjected to his offending, describing herself now as "an empty shell" and suffering insomnia, nightmares, depression, and PTSD.
Another victim is consumed by paranoia and cannot sleep due to flashbacks.
One was strangled during the rape, feeling like she was going to die.
Jane Waugh, prosecuting, called Bell's offences "heinous" and noted they occurred even while he was under investigation for other offences.
The judge sentenced Bell to eight consecutive terms totaling 24 years, with an additional three years on licence; he must serve at least 16 years before parole, sign the sex offender register for life, and stay away from victims for 30 years.
