OFFENDER CONVICTED OF RAPING ELDERLY WOMAN IN HER HOME
A dog walker named Paul Woodmass, a married grandfather from Lemington, was found guilty of raping a vulnerable elderly woman with dementia in her own home.The incident occurred after he had previously interacted with her while walking his dogs.
Evidence showed that Woodmass hunted her down after chatting with her during a prior dog walk and deliberately targeted her because of her vulnerability.
During the attack, he forcibly had sex with her while she was unable to consent, and saliva evidence was found on her underwear, indicating non-consensual activity.
Woodmass was also found to be in possession of condoms when arrested, despite claiming he had only gone to her house "to have a cup of tea".
He denied the rape during police interview, stating he met her on a dog walk and only talked.
However, police observed him return to her area shortly after the incident, raising suspicion.
Jurors at Newcastle Crown Court convicted him unanimously of rape, and he is set to be sentenced in September with a risk assessment planned due to concerns about his dangerousness.
The court was told that Woodmass had previously been involved in an incident with another woman in 2021, where he behaved inappropriately and made her uncomfortable.
The judge remarked that a long prison sentence was inevitable and ordered a risk assessment before sentencing.
