DARREN SYSUM SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN GLOUCESTER FOR MANIPULATIVE SEXUAL CRIMES

In February 2022, Darren Sysum, a man from Gloucester, was handed a severe prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of multiple heinous sexual offenses. The court sentenced him to 20 years behind bars for raping three women, with an additional five-year extension on parole, meaning he could be recalled to prison at any time until February 2047. This extended sentence reflects the court’s view of Sysum as a dangerous individual who poses a significant threat to society.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC addressed the 29-year-old defendant directly during the sentencing hearing, stating, “You meet the dangerous criteria, which justifies extending your sentence. This is due to your background, your history, your lack of remorse, and your continual denial. Your behavior was persistent over a long period, demonstrating a pattern of manipulative and predatory conduct.”

Several jurors who had participated in the trial last November returned to Gloucester Crown Court today to witness the formal sentencing of Sysum for five counts of rape, one of sexual assault by penetration, and one of assault causing actual bodily harm. Sysum, who resided on Matson Avenue in Gloucester, had previously admitted to additional charges, including coercive and controlling behavior against a woman, distribution of indecent images, and four breaches of a restraining order.

The jury’s guilty verdicts on all rape charges came after nearly nine hours of deliberation. During the trial, it was revealed that Sysum showed a blatant disregard for whether his victims consented to sexual acts, often acting with confidence and manipulation. He was described as a ‘confident and manipulative womanizer’ and a ‘narcissistic rapist’ who inflicted ‘unimaginable harm’ on his victims.

The prosecution painted a disturbing picture of Sysum’s modus operandi, emphasizing his manipulative tactics and abuse of power. They explained that he created an environment where victims felt physically and sexually abused, often believing that their complaints would be dismissed or ignored. The prosecutor highlighted that Sysum’s confidence in his ability to manipulate was so strong that he believed women would not report him or that their reports would not be believed.

Evidence presented included a recording of a phone call in which Sysum responded callously when one of his victims threatened to report him for rape, saying, “Send me to jail, I don’t care.” The court heard that Sysum committed his crimes not only at victims’ homes but also in an empty flat, in bushes, and even while one woman was unconscious. The prosecutor emphasized that these women were particularly vulnerable due to various personal factors, making them easy targets for Sysum’s predatory behavior.

He exploited their vulnerabilities, often undermining their confidence and playing them against each other to create jealousy and rivalry. His tactics included repeated phone calls, often during early morning hours, designed to wear down his victims and normalize the abuse. The court was shown evidence of his callousness, including a recording of a victim stating that Sysum’s threats and manipulations left her feeling scared and doubting herself.

Following the trial, it was revealed that Sysum had also admitted to a further offense involving controlling and coercive behavior. Prosecutor David Maunder detailed how Sysum’s abusive relationship with one woman involved physical violence, including knocking her unconscious and breaking into her flat on multiple occasions. He forced her into a submissive state, demanding daily sex and distributing videos of her without her consent, further demonstrating his pattern of controlling and degrading conduct.

Another victim recounted her experience of being stalked, harassed, and subjected to coercive control by Sysum, despite a court-issued restraining order. Even while incarcerated for a previous 20-month sentence, Sysum continued to contact her through social media and in person, showing a blatant disregard for legal boundaries.

Victims provided emotional victim impact statements, describing their lives forever changed by Sysum’s actions. One victim expressed that her relationship with him felt like a prison sentence, and she now lives in constant fear, haunted by the trauma. Another described her experience as a nightmare, feeling used and abused, with lasting scars on her confidence and trust in men. A third victim recounted her fear during the assault and the shame she felt afterward, which was compounded by Sysum’s use of her home for further abusive acts.

A fourth woman detailed how her relationship with Sysum led to depression, financial hardship, and feelings of worthlessness. She explained that despite warnings from loved ones, she initially stayed with him, but the guilty verdict has given her hope for recovery.

Defense counsel Kannan Siva acknowledged the jury’s verdict but suggested that Sysum was showing signs of improvement, including taking medication for his disorder. However, Judge Lawrie was clear in his assessment, stating that the evidence did not support the defense’s view. The judge announced that he would provide detailed reasons for his sentencing decision on Monday, February 21.

In addition to the prison term, Sysum was ordered to be subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and to remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely, underscoring the court’s determination to protect the community from his predatory behavior.