2002: MAN JAILED FOR FOUR YEARS AFTER RAPING WOMAN AT HIS HOME
A man from Stratford, convicted of forcibly pushing a woman to the ground and sexually assaulting her, has been sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.Christopher Fairbrother, 48, of New Street, Stratford, had denied the charges of rape at his former residence in Gilbert Close back in April.
However, following a trial that lasted over three and a half hours, the jury at Warwick Crown Court delivered a verdict on Tuesday, finding Fairbrother guilty by an eleven to one majority.
Fairbrother argued that the woman had ultimately consented to sex, but the court found his account unconvincing.
During the proceedings, the woman recounted her experience of visiting the house in Gilbert Close.
She described walking into the kitchen when Fairbrother, who was following her, suddenly grabbed her from behind and spun her around.
This caused her to lose her footing and fall to the ground with him on top of her.
She explained, “I was flat on my back, and he was kind of sitting across my legs.
I thought he was just playing around.
I didn’t expect anything harmful to happen.
I just told him to get off and asked what he thought he was doing.” The woman added that she struggled to free herself from his grasp, noting that Fairbrother was a tall, sturdy man, and she couldn’t shift him.
She clarified that he did not hit her during the incident.
She further stated that Fairbrother remained on top of her for approximately 30 to 45 minutes, during which he unbuttoned her jeans and attempted to pull them down.
She held onto her trousers to keep them up as he pushed her top aside and began kissing and licking her breasts, claiming he was not enjoying it but insisted it had to be done.
After a struggle, he managed to free one of her legs from her trousers.
She recalled scratching his cheek in an effort to escape and repeatedly shouting at him to leave her alone.
Fairbrother eventually engaged in sexual intercourse with her, then got up, allowing her to do the same before she left the house and drove directly to the police station.
Prosecutor Simon Ward highlighted that Fairbrother’s comment upon police arrival—“I’ve been expecting you”—was significant, as he also told officers, when questioned about the rape allegation, “It’s not an allegation.” It was also revealed that Fairbrother had previously engaged in sex with the woman.
Passing sentence, Judge James Pyke stated, “You forced yourself on her after a struggle on the floor where she clearly indicated she did not consent.
I acknowledge you may have been in an emotional state at the time, but that does not excuse the extremity of your actions.”
