OFFENDER WHO FANTASIZED AS JOHN WAYNE AND RAPED WOMAN SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS
A man identified as Neville Cornwall, aged 31, from Ardgallon, Boyle, County Sligo, was sentenced to seven years in jail for raping a woman three times.Cornwall, who expressed a desire to imitate actor John Wayne and considered himself a cowboy, told his victim to call him John during the assaults.
He was of low intelligence and had pleaded guilty to raping a 29-year-old woman in three separate incidents: on March 17, 1992, and November 21, 1996, in County Sligo, and on January 3, 1997, in County Roscommon.
In court, it was revealed that after one of the rapes, the victim tried to drown herself.
Garda John Nicholson confirmed Cornwall admitted to the crimes in a statement.
The court noted that the rapes occurred after drinking at a pub, with Cornwall walking the victim home each time.
On one occasion, Cornwall returned and climbed through a back window to assault her again.
The third rape happened after they unexpectedly met in Sligo, with Cornwall driving the victim to a forest park in County Roscommon and raping her there before leaving her stranded.
The defense argued that the crimes were not premeditated, and Cornwall's mental capacity was below normal.
Despite the absence of aggravated assault, the judge acknowledged the severe impact on the victim.
