DOUBLE RAPIST HUGH JOSEPH JAILED FOR LIFE AFTER ATTACKS IN SWINDON
He raped nine years ago and did it again A DOUBLE rapist, given two life sentences after attacking two women at his flat, first struck in Swindon nine years ago.The court heard Hugh Joseph, 32, was jailed for eight years in 1993 after attacking a young mother, an attack described at the time by Judge Mark Dyer as "evil and cunning." Yesterday, Blackfriars Crown Court heard how the "sexual predator"—formerly of Caulfield Road, Swindon, now of White City, west London—attacked his latest victims while his mother was in the next room.
Joseph denied the charges but during his trial admitted a further charge of actual bodily harm against one of his victims.
Passing sentence, Judge Charles Byers told him: "I take the view you are a danger to the public and a particular danger to women." The court heard that Joseph barricaded both women in his living room and repeatedly punched their faces when they said no to sex.
He also pulled their hair and throttled them into submission, and warned both victims they would be killed if they made any noise that might disturb his mother.
The rapist tried to burn his second victim with a disposable lighter.
A police investigation subsequently brought him to book after DNA taken from the bitten ear of one of his victims matched his, and forensic experts found a clump of her hair on Joseph's carpet.
Joseph had been convicted by a jury of two counts of rape, two of indecent assault, two of false imprisonment and assault causing actual bodily harm.
The court noted he had four serious previous convictions in the 1990s: - In 1991 at Knightsbridge Crown Court for false imprisonment and ABH, jailed for two years.
- In 1993 at Swindon Crown Court for rape, jailed for eight years.
- In 1997 at Swindon Crown Court for robbery, jailed for three years.
- In 1998 at the Old Bailey for false imprisonment and assault, jailed for four years.
Detective Constable Andy Rawling of Hammersmith police said: "It would not surprise me if other women come forward.
It surprises me there have only been three allegations, given his nature as a sexual predator."
