DEVIZES MAN MARK FEW FACES JAIL FOR RAPE AND ASSAULT
Devizes man Mark Few is facing a lengthy jail term after pleading guilty to raping a woman in the town.The 30-year-old is said to have tied his victim to the bed in her own home before indecently assaulting her, a court heard.
However, the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, managed to free herself from the bonds and Few then raped her.
She managed to escape after the night time attack and was spotted in the town centre by a passing police patrol.
As having no top on the woman also had no shoes and had suffered some injuries, the court heard.
She returned home with the police where Few, who was still at the property, was arrested.
When he was questioned by police he denied any assault and claimed the woman had consented to have sex with him.
However when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court last week Few admitted the offence, which dates from August 9.
The indecent assault was not charged separately but included in the count of rape, the court was told.
Few also admitted perverting the course of justice and was convicted of criminal damage, racially aggravated assault and assaulting a policeman.
The matter of perverting the course of justice relates to him giving another person's name, address and date of birth when he was arrested and appeared in court charged with being drunk and disorderly.
At the time of the rape Few was on bail for racially aggravated assault, criminal damage and assaulting a police officer.
He was convicted of all three matters by magistrates who then committed the matter to the crown court for sentencing.
Few, of Snuff Street, Devizes, was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be compiled.
Judge John McNaught said "I must warn you that, whatever the report says, the strong probability is that you must prepare yourself for a prison sentence." Lynne Harne, of the Rape Crisis Federation, a charity that gives support and counselling to rape victims, said all rapists should be jailed for a substantial length of time.
She said: "The national guidance is that jail sentences for rape should not be less than five years.
But in our opinion rapists should be jailed for longer than that, for example ten years.
A substantial jail term would bring justice for the victim as well as protecting other potential victims.
Whatever the form of rape is, it is extremely traumatic for the victim and although they may get to a point where they can cope with the experience they will never lose the memory of it.
It can affect women in different ways, for example some may suffer panic attacks, fear and nightmares and that may go on for several months or years."
