MAN JAILED FOR CANAL-SIDE RAPE IN SUTTON
A man from Sutton, near Keighley, named Joseph Dawson, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for raping a woman at the canalside in October 2015.Dawson, aged 24, was convicted by a jury at Bradford Crown Court following a five-day trial.
The court heard that after a barbecue on April 11, Dawson, who described himself as a gentleman, attacked his victim.
The woman was drinking but not drunk, and Dawson began ringing her at 1am, threatening to visit the barbecue.
She agreed to meet him in a car park to avoid trouble.
They walked through the bus station to the canalside in Skipton and sat on a bench.
Dawson attempted to kiss her and hug her, but she refused.
He then got her to the ground and pulled down her trousers, crying and telling him to stop, but she resisted.
Dawson then forcibly performed oral sex on her.
After the assault, he helped her dress and walked her to a friend’s house.
The following day, she reported the assault to the police.
Dawson denied the rape and attempted rape, claiming that the sex was consensual, and also denied causing criminal damage to two cars belonging to the woman and her boyfriend.
Despite these claims, he was convicted of rape and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Dawson was also cleared of related criminal damage charges.
His self-description as a gentleman and assertions that any sexual activity was consensual were part of his defense.
