‘Dangerous and violent’ rapist jailed for nine years

A man has been jailed for nine years after being found guilty of five charges of rape.
CourtCourt
Court

At a sentencing in St Albans Crown Court on Friday, 41-year-old Robert Atkinson, of Cleves Road, Hemel Hempstead, was also convicted of one attempted rape, two charges of causing actual bodily harm and one charge of assault by beating – all during the course of last year.

He was found guilty after the end of his trial on August 22, after the victim contacted police in December 2013.

Atkinson was sentenced to nine years imprisonment for rape, with an additional three years on licence.

He was also sentenced to a following six years for attempted rape, 12 months for actual bodily harm and one month for assault by beating, which will be served concurrently, meaning he will spend no further time in jail.

He has also been given a lifetime restraining order and a lifetime Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Det Con Caroline Bright from the Herts police specialist sexual offences investigation team said: “We welcome this sentence.

“Robert Atkinson is a dangerous and violent man who subjected his victim to a horrific ordeal.

“I would like to commend the victim for having the courage to come forward and report this to us.

“She has been left extremely traumatised by what has happened but I hope this sentence is of some comfort to her.

“I would also like to thank the witnesses for coming forward and giving evidence on matters which must have been extremely distressing.”

Det Insp Dee Perkins added: “The sentence passed on Friday reflects the severity of Robert Atkinson’s appalling actions and we hope this will reassure victims of sexual offences that justice can and will be done, and the perpetrators of such crimes will be dealt with.”

Related topics: