MAN 'TOOK A FANCY' TO WOMAN THEN RAPED HER IN DARK ALLEY
A man was convicted of assault and rape after a serious incident in Tenby, as revealed in a court hearing.Nicholas Mitchell, accompanied by his daughters during a family trip to the Pembrokeshire seaside town in May 2021, met the victim at a local pub.
Swansea Crown Court was told that after their introduction, the 60-year-old man assaulted her in a dark alley, where he sexually attacked and ultimately raped her.
Following the assault, Mitchell left the scene, leaving the woman in a state of distress and appearance of being disheveled.
The woman reported the assault to the police, leading to Mitchell’s identification and arrest.
He denied the charges, but in November, the case proceeded to trial where he was found guilty of rape and assault by penetration.
During the trial, a statement from the victim, read aloud by the prosecution, detailed her struggles afterward.
She admitted to feeling isolated and lonely, unable to leave her home easily.
She also described feeling numb and depressed, stating that the assault had significantly affected her life.
Mitchell, who resides on Park Avenue in West Wickham, Bromley, London, was previously convicted of assaulting a police officer in October 2020, during an incident involving his estranged wife.
At sentencing, he returned to the dock after the verdict.
His defense attorney, James Hartson, argued that Mitchell maintained his innocence but accepted the court’s verdicts.
The lawyer highlighted positive references portraying him as a kind, loyal, and hardworking individual.
He described the events in Tenby as an extreme deviation from his usual conduct.
The defense also raised concerns over the delay of approximately 37 months in charging Mitchell, pointing out that this lengthy period was particularly troubling for the defendant and the victim.
Judge Huw Rees commented on Mitchell’s behavior, noting the defendant’s apparent initial interest in the victim, which then escalated into a violent and cruel assault on a vulnerable woman.
The judge condemned the act as wicked, accusing Mitchell of letting alcohol and lust influence his actions.
Mitchell received a sentence of eight and a half years in prison.
He is to serve two-thirds of this term while in custody, with the remaining period on license in the community.
Additionally, he will be registered as a sex offender for life.
