MAN JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AFTER VICTIM REJECTED HIM
A man sexually assaulted a woman after she rejected his advances.Craig Atkinson, 43, "refused to take no for an answer" when the woman turned him down, attacking her several times after she pushed him away and told him to "leave her alone".
The incident occurred in July of the previous year, after Atkinson accompanied the woman to a pub and then returned to her home.
He hoped for some sexual interaction, but the woman felt unwell, which dampened his plans.
During the court proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, judge recorder Lasker highlighted that Atkinson knew the woman was unwell and noted the messages he sent her the following day, expressing disappointment that the sexual interaction did not happen.
Despite her apologies, the judge stated that Atkinson's need for sexual gratification overtook her well-being as the night went on.
The woman, who had taken medication, awoke to find Atkinson sexually assaulting her in her bedroom.
She pushed him off and told him to leave her alone, but Atkinson initially left and then returned to attack her three more times.
The court heard that Atkinson sent her messages the next day, showing some remorse, but it was not enduring.
The woman reported the assault to police, resulting in Atkinson's arrest and bail with orders not to contact her.
However, he violated these conditions multiple times, leading to a non-molestation order, which he breached repeatedly over four months.
The judge stated that Atkinson's conduct had caused her significant distress, attempting to end her life and impeding her ability to move forward.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault, breach of the non-molestation order, and additional counts involving private images.
The court accepted mitigating factors, including that this behavior was out of character for him and that he faced trauma and difficulties in 2024.
Ultimately, Atkinson was sentenced to six years in prison and an indefinite restraining order was imposed to prevent contact with his victim.
