JAIL FOR NET RAPIST
A MAN who raped a Poole woman he met through an internet chatroom has been jailed for seven years.Christopher Graham Elliott, 22, subjected the woman to actual bodily harm and rape on December 2 last year.
He raped her even though she told him she believed she was expecting a child.
Elliott had pleaded guilty to one count of rape and one of causing actual bodily harm.
He had also admitted a charge of actual bodily harm against another woman.
Prosecuting, Derwent Hope told the Bournemouth Crown Court that the single mother and Elliott met after exchanging e-mails.
In a statement, the victim said: "I honestly thought he was going to kill me.
I screamed: 'Somebody help me.
For God's sake stop hitting me.
I'm pregnant'.
He wrenched my head back.
"He said: 'Shut up or I'll kill you'.
My head was ringing with the pain and I couldn't stop crying and sobbing.
Blood was rushing from my mouth." Elliott continued to hit her while warning her to be quiet.
She then pretended to be unconscious hoping he would leave her alone.
He then raped her.
The next day she drove to her sister's house where they went to Poole police station to report the crime.
Ian Ross, defending, said that Elliott had started going for counselling and said his crimes were mostly "fuelled by alcohol".
"It is not a case of him refusing to accept responsibility," he added.
Elliott received six years for rape and two years for ABH to be served concurrently.
He received a further 12 months for the second ABH charge.
Speaking after the hearing DS Paul Powley of Poole CID said: "I think this serves as a warning to people using the internet.
We need to get across to members of the public that meetings need to be made in public in a place where they feel safe."
