NATHAN HUSBAND FROM ST AUSTELL FOUND GUILTY OF RAPE AND PROSTITUTION COERCION

In a case that has shocked the community of St Austell, Nathan Husband, a 32-year-old man, was convicted this week at Truro Crown Court on multiple serious charges, including rape, assault, and coercion into prostitution. The trial revealed disturbing details of Husband’s actions towards a female victim, which spanned over a period of time and involved significant violence and manipulation.

Husband had denied all five charges brought against him, claiming innocence and dismissing the allegations as false. During the proceedings, he described himself as “not a sadistic rapist” and insisted that he did not have a drug habit, despite evidence to the contrary presented by the prosecution. The jury, however, was unconvinced by his claims and, after deliberating for just under two hours, unanimously found him guilty of all counts.

Prosecutor Rachel Drake outlined the case, detailing how Husband had exerted control over the victim, coercing her into selling herself into prostitution for his benefit. She explained that Husband had raped her and subjected her to repeated physical assaults, all while maintaining dominance over her through threats and violence. The court heard that Husband used the proceeds from her prostitution to fund his drug habits, further illustrating his manipulative and exploitative behavior.

Ms Drake described specific instances of Husband’s brutality, including an episode where he forced the victim to sit in a cupboard for over an hour and a half while he engaged in a drug transaction and smoked drugs nearby. The victim also recounted several incidents where Husband physically assaulted her to the point where she feared for her life. These accounts painted a picture of a man who used violence and intimidation to control and abuse the woman.

Husband, in his defense, admitted to some minor incidents involving pushing and shoving but categorically denied the more serious allegations of forced prostitution, rape, and assault. He claimed that the victim had struck him first, attempting to shift blame and minimize his culpability. Throughout the trial, Husband was seen in the dock smirking, tutting, and shaking his head as the evidence was presented.

Judge Anna Richardson summarized the case for the jury, who reached their verdict swiftly. Husband remains on remand in custody until his sentencing scheduled for August 30. If he receives a custodial sentence, it will mark yet another period of incarceration for a man with a history of violence and criminal behavior towards women, including previous convictions for similar offenses.