Rapist jailed for brutal attacks

8:08pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

THE woman brutally assaulted, raped and imprisoned by Kristopher Searle said she will never be able to get over the terrifying ordeal.

Lorry driver Searle, 33, was jailed indefinitely yesterday for the protection of the public.

This man took away my life. I sleep with a knife next to my pillow now and have to always have the doors locked. I don’t like being by myself.

Victim of Searle

He will not even be considered for release for seven years.

As he was taken from the court room the first of three victims he raped shouted "scum."

The 23-year-old former prostitute, who is trying to get her life back on track after the attack last April, said: "I now know he's going to be locked up for a long time. I'm going to go home now, I'll drink a bottle of vodka and smile.

"This past year has been so difficult. This man took away my life. I sleep with a knife next to my pillow now and have to always have the doors locked. I don't like being by myself.

"This isn't something I will ever be able to forget. If I see someone who just looks a bit like him it can send me into a panic attack.

"At the time it happened I was on heroin. Now I've been clean for almost a year. I do mess up now and again because of the stress of this but things are getting better.

"I'm not working the streets anymore. I've started an IT course and am looking for a new home."

Searle, formerly of Deerhurst Way, Toothill, picked up his 23-year-old victim in Manchester Road on the night of the attack.

He drove her in his Vauxhall Cavalier to Badbury where he hit her about the head and raped her.

Ian Lawrie, prosecuting, described the crimes as a "campaign of rape."

"She thought she was then going to be taken back to Manchester Road, but it didn't work that way. She was taken to Searle's address in Deerhurst Way, effectively abducted and taken to the flat where she remained for the ensuing hours.

"She was subjected to verbal and physical threats of violence and further rape."

After reporting her rape and abduction to the police, Searle was arrested and released on police bail. While on bail Searle picked up two more prostitutes, took them to secluded areas in his Ford Transit van and raped them.

A jury at Swindon Crown Court found Searle guilty of seven counts of rape and one of kidnap.

Judge Douglas Field ruled that Searle should be jailed for life to protect the public. He will have to serve at least seven years before a parole board can consider releasing him - and only then if he is no longer considered a threat.

"On April 9 last year you picked up the first victim in your car. You drove her to an isolated spot and suddenly you changed and punched her hard in the face three or four times.

"You told her you hadn't finished with her and raped her.

"This was certainly a terrifying ordeal for her.

"You kidnapped her, taking her against her will, in your car to your flat with the intention of raping her.

"She was in fear of you and during her hours with you must have been terrified.

"During her time in the back of the van she was begging to be allowed to go and you said you can go when I'm finished with you'. She was raped again and you said you can go when you look like you are enjoying it' and then she was raped in the most degrading way.

"I am satisfied they were deliberately picked up by you because they were defenceless and vulnerable.

"You subjected all of them to gratuitous violence and degrading attacks.

"In my judgement there is a significant risk of the public being caused serious harm if you commit further offences."

Judge Field also ordered Searle to be put on the Sexual Offenders' Register for life.

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