A man who raped and sexually assaulted a woman as she slept, immediately tried to cover his tracks by washing his clothing on his return home, a court heard.

Stephen Durward committed the offences on a woman in the early hours of a night in 2019, but, following the report of the crime soon afterwards, police traced him to his home address shortly after 3am.

Durham Crown Court was told the defendant was arrested for suspected rape and the officers asked for the clothing he had been wearing for forensic examination.

He told them they were in his bedroom, but those garments that were retrieved were neatly folded and appeared not to have been worn.

Read more: County Durham man admits rapes in Spennymoor's Victoria Jubilee Park

The court heard that Durward then conceded the clothes that he had most recently been wearing had just been washed.

He went on to be charged with offences of rape and sexual assault, which he denied, claiming both were consensual acts, but, following a trial at Teesside Crown Court, he was convicted of each of the offences by the jury, on January 12.

The 38-year-old defendant, of Sherwood Road, Thornaby, was remanded in custody to Durham Prison, from where he appeared by video link at today’s (Tuesday February 14) sentencing hearing at the nearby crown court.

The Northern Echo:

Defendant Stephen Durward, jailed for 90-months for rape and sexual assault

 

Rebecca Brown, for the prosecution, read the victim’s impact statement to the court, in which she said she felt, “physically sick and disgusted” at Durward’s actions.

She said it resulted in her having recurring nightmares and it led her to having to take, “significant time” away from work, before leaving the job due to a breakdown.

In the statement she outlined: “Not a day goes by without thinking about what happened.”

She said that her anxiety reached the point where she took an overdose last year as she could not, “see a way out”, and she feels that the offences, “changed my life.”

Read more: Spennymoor park rapist carried out 'disturbing and depraved' attack

Miss Brown asked the court to consider the imposition of a restraining order for the protection of the victim.

Stephen Littlewood, for Durward, presented a number of character references to the court on his behalf.

He told the hearing: “It appears these offences were completely out of character for someone who has led a productive and kind-hearted way of life and who has been an otherwise productive member of society.

“I think it can be considered as a one-off for Mr Durward.

“He has touched many people’s lives in a positive way and there will be a loss to those in his close family of not having him around.”

Mr Littlewood also spoke of the significant delay in the case reaching a conclusion through the courts, given that the offences date from July 2019, which was not the fault of the defendant.

Recorder Paul Reid, who presided over last month’s trial, agreed and said the delays were, “a matter of great regret,” affecting both defendants and complainants in such cases.

In the light of his conviction the Recorder said the defendant’s remarks to police and his actions in immediately washing his clothing were “cynical”, due to the nature of the investigation.

He said it was clear from the victim statement that Durward’s actions on a vulnerable victim, given that she was asleep, have, “shattered her life”.

Recorder Reid added that despite the many positive sides to the defendant’s character that the court was told about, “only an immediate lengthy sentence can be justified.”

Imposing a 90-month (seven-and-a-half years) prison sentence for the principal offence of rape, with 50 months to run concurrently for the sexual assault, the Recorder also made Durward subject to both registration as a sex offender and a restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting or approaching his victim, both to run indefinitely.

Speaking after today's sentencing hearing, Detective Inspector Lou Sproson, from Stockton CID, said: “This horrendous incident had a huge impact on the victim, who was raped and sexually assaulted by someone she had trusted.

"Thankfully, he is now behind bars for a significant length of time, where he cannot harm anyone else.

“Anyone who reports that they have been a victim of rape or sexual abuse can expect to be treated with sensitivity and by specially trained officers, with support available to those wish to access it.

"We will carry out a thorough investigation and those who carry out appalling offences like these will be brought to justice.”

Anyone who has been a victim of rape of sexual abuse is encouraged to report the incident to police, by calling 101.

Alternatively, victims can contact Teesside Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for help and support, regardless of whether or not the offence has been reported to police.

SARC provides 24-hour crisis intervention and a range of options, working in partnership with local specialist services, such as Barnado’s, A Way Out and Arch.

It can also access support on behalf of victims.

Read next:

               County Durham man convicted of child rapes sentenced as 'offender of concern'

               County Durham rapist poses 'high risk' of sexual harm to women

               Boy was given cider before County Durham sex offender groped him

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here

SARC crisis workers are available on (03333) 448283, at any time of day or night.

Details of sexual offences can also now be passed on to:

https://www.cleveland.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/how-to-report-rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/, the Cleveland force's dedicated online sexual offences reporting site.