A serial rapist from Oldham was jailed for 18 years today after blaming his predatory offending on a cannabis habit he picked up when he was only THREE years old.
Philip Williams, 46, said he had such an ‘unloved’ childhood he was smoking joints when he was a toddler and was addicted to dope by the age of 11.
His drug taking made him paranoid and during a criminal career spanning 20 years Williams battered and raped an 18-year-old college student on a golf course while in a drink and drug crazed haze.
He had also been suspected of a knifepoint attack on 11-year old girl outside a cemetery and was investigated over two further sexual assaults. He served ten years behind bars for rape in the 1990s.
Last November, Williams ambushed and sexually assaulted a 20-year old woman who had been walking under a subway. He fled with her handbag saying: ”that’s the last time I ever take you out.”.
He was caught again after the victim managed to call police on her mobile phone as she was being attacked and screamed out her location.
Officers also issued CCTV of him as a he prowled the area. Williams was jailed after he admitted rape, intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault by penetration and robbery.
He must serve at least two thirds of his sentence and will be monitored by the authorities until 2032.
Bolton Crown Court was told the latest offence occurred at 6pm on November 3 after the victim had visited her grandmother in Prestwich.
She walked into subway which runs under junction 17 of the M60 – not realising Williams had been tracking her for over a mile. As she walked out of the subway, he pounced and dragged her back to the underpass by her hair.
Prosecutor Mr Geoff Whelan said: ”She was listening to music on her iPhone with headphones and carrying a handbag.
”He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her to the ground. She screamed, he told her not to scream and stated he wouldn’t hurt her.
”At that moment she was able to use her mobile phone and tried to ring the police but doubled over, while he dragged her by the hair.
”She was screaming down the phone, shouting her location but he grabbed the phone and threw it to the floor.”
During a struggle, the woman ended up on her back with Williams kneeling down and she feared she was going to be raped. Mr Whelan added: “He grabbed her back up smashed her head on a concrete wall, and punched her face.
”She could taste blood and was struggling to breathe. She tried to get the phone. She felt like she was fighting for her life, she was plucking at his eyes and scratching at his eyes and mouth. He held his hand over her mouth, she was able to bite his fingers.
”He told her that he had got a knife and if she didn’t stop screaming she would be stabbed. But she began kicking and screaming – she was of the view that she would rather be stabbed than raped.”
Williams fled after being disturbed by a passing cyclist. His DNA was found on the victim who suffered multiple cuts and bruises to her mouth scalp,cheekbones, left thigh, leg, and lower back.
She told police since the incident she suffered nightmares and sleepless nights and had been prescribed sleeping tablets. She used to be very sociable and go out every weekend but now stays at home and feels ‘very dependant’ on others.
She had cut her four times a week visits to see her grandmother and was worried about venturing into subways. Mr Whelan said: ”Her work life has been affected. She had rarely gone in and when she did she was very upset as tearful.
”She says she was angry with herself for this offence and is anxious and jumps whenever anyone walks past. She doesn’t think she will ever forget this.”
Police swooped on Williams three days after the attack at his home where he became violent and tried to spit at officers. They found a distinctive beanie hat described by the victim hidden in a bag. She later picked him out in an identity parade.
The court heard Williams had been jailed in March 1998 for the horrific beating and rape of a teenager as she took a shortcut through Gatley Golf Course, near Stockport.
During that assault, the girl was dragged along the ground by her hair and was so convinced she would die told Williams: ”Just get on with it and kill me.”
Then 29, Williams claimed he could not remember the rape due to his intake of alcohol and Temazapam. The attack on the 11-year-old was allowed to lie on file.
In mitigation defence counsel Miss Virginia Hayton said of the latest sexual assault: ”He has little or no explanation why he behaved the way he did. He had a troubled upbringing. He has been using drugs since the age of three, introduced at a house of a relative.
”He has been a drug addict since 11, using cannabis. It not only led to him being paranoid but to him having depression. He is yet to have it addressed. He has very little recall of the offences; they are very serious offences in virtually identical circumstances.”
Passing sentence Judge Peter Davies told Williams: “It goes without saying your culpability is extreme. The effect on the victim has been immense and profound. She still has nightmares and she has flashbacks. You pose a significant threat of harm.”
After the case Det Insp Damian Simpson from Greater Manchester Police said: “From the moment we received the call reporting this attack, it was apparent there were some chilling elements to it.
”We were dealing with a man who seemed so determined to attack this woman that he didn’t care he had chosen to do it in a busy location when there were likely to be a lot of people around, and he even carried on with his appalling assault knowing his victim was on the phone to police.
“We can only imagine the horrendous ordeal that this young woman suffered at the hands of Williams, and I am only thankful he was interrupted before he could cause her even further trauma.”
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