A Bolton rapist who stopped to apologise and cry before continuing his attack on a vulnerable woman has been jailed.
Richard Thomas was sentenced to nine years in prison at Bolton Crown court with a further three years in licence on his release.
The 22-year-old of Kingsford Close, Bolton, admitted to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Detective Constable Charlotte Morgan described the attacker as ‘an opportunistic and predatory sex offender’ after the two attacks separated by a year – the second while he was on the run from police.
“He clearly has no regard for women and represents a clear and significant danger, and I am pleased this has been reflected in his sentence,” she said.
The first assault occurred on June 8 last year when Thomas befriended a 20-year-old woman in Bolton town centre, where they spent the day together.
In the early hours of the morning, he led her through Queen’s Park where he pushed her to the ground and raped her, pausing to weep and apologise before continuing the attack.
The second offence was committed while Thomas was on a court warrant after failing to turn up for a plea and case management hearing in May 2014 for the original rape case.
He met his second victim, a teenager who he befriended on Facebook, at a party on June 1 in Westhougton.
Thomas grabbed the 17-year-old girl by the throat as they were walking along a passageway off Cherwell road and threatened to stab her if she did not have sex with him.
After tearing the victim’s clothes a brief struggle ensued and Thomas ran off. The police were called and he was shortly arrested.
Detective Constable Morgan said: “These offences, allied with the fact that he committed the second attack having been charged with rape and while on the run, demonstrate an overwhelming disregard for women and the law and highlight what an unrepentant and callous individual he is.
“The physical and psychological effect upon both girls is massive and the attacks will most likely haunt them for many years.
“I hope that knowing he will be behind bars for so many years can help the healing process for them both in some small way.”
Justin Hayhoe, Senior Crown Advocate for CPS North West stated that Richard Thomas had ‘acted out the charade of being gentlemanly’ to luring vulnerable women to isolated areas and gain their trust ‘with the sole intention of overpowering them to carry out violent sexual attacks upon them.’
“The two women suffered unimaginable ordeals at the hands of the defendant and I would particularly like to commend their bravery in coming forward,” she said.
“It is thanks to them and the compelling accounts they gave of their attacks that we were able to build a strong case against the defendant leaving him with no other option than to plead guilty.
“A dangerous sexual predator has been taken off the streets of Greater Manchester where he can no longer pose a risk to society.
“The CPS and police are dedicated to bringing the perpetrators of sexual offences to justice for their deplorable actions.”
