JOHN BUTCHER AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN SOMERSET
A resident of Somerset has been sentenced to prison following a series of three sexual assault incidents that occurred within a span of three months across different locations in the county.Mark John Butcher, aged 36 and residing in Evercreech, was convicted of attacking women in Street and Shepton Mallet.
The court's ruling sentenced him to serve four years and seven months behind bars.
Furthermore, upon his release, Butcher will remain under supervision for an additional three years and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
The scope of Butcher’s crimes included a variety of disturbing assaults, some of which involved physical violence and attempted abduction.
One of his victims, who was out jogging, was forcibly grabbed by him.
Fortunately, she managed to fight him off, break free, and conceal herself within a nearby field, escaping serious harm.
During today’s hearing, Judge Cook emphasized the severity of Butcher’s offenses, highlighting that his actions demonstrated escalating levels of violence.
The judge also pointed out that Butcher’s attacks appeared to be carefully planned, with evidence suggesting he deliberately lay in wait for his victims.
The first attack took place on Tuesday, June 5, in Street.
A 24-year-old woman was pushed against a wall and sexually assaulted by Butcher.
She shouted for him to stop, which caused him to flee the scene.
The victim was able to describe her attacker in detail, noting that he was wearing brightly coloured construction trousers.
Following this incident, police issued a public appeal and circulated CCTV images capturing a man matching this description near the scene.
Subsequently, on Thursday, July 19, a second assault occurred approximately a month later.
An 18-year-old woman, who had just left a supermarket, was attacked.
Butcher grabbed her around the throat and pulled her backwards.
She was able to fight him off and ran home, where she promptly contacted police.
This attack further intensified efforts by law enforcement to identify the suspect.
The third and final assault took place in Shepton Mallet at around 7 pm on Friday, August 31.
A 20-year-old woman out jogging was grabbed around the throat and pulled to the ground.
Despite being restrained initially, she fought back vigorously and managed to free herself from Butcher’s grip.
As she attempted to escape, he attempted to rugby-tackle her again, but she kicked him away and successfully ran off.
During the investigation, she observed a Peugeot vehicle with an ‘S’ prefix on the registration, which she reported to authorities.
Her detailed account described how the incident had significantly impacted her emotional well-being, making her increasingly paranoid and affecting her sleep and daily routines.
In terms of apprehending Butcher, Detective Constable Catherine King explained the investigative procedures.
Officers showed CCTV footage and distributed images to local businesses to solicit identification.
At a local quarry, two staff members recognized Butcher, who was employed as an HGV driver.
He was detained the same day.
At his arrest, Butcher was wearing a black polo shirt similar to the one seen in the CCTV footage, and police also seized clothing including high-visibility trousers and a baseball cap.
Authorities noted a blue Peugeot parked on his property that matched the description provided by one of the victims.
DNA samples collected from Butcher linked him to the biological material found on two of the victims’ clothing items.
The third victim identified him during a separate identification procedure.
This collection of evidence, along with his admission of guilt in court, constructed a solid case leading to his conviction.
The police spokesperson underscored the rare and troubling nature of stranger attacks like these, which tend to generate widespread concern within local communities.
They expressed relief that Butcher is now behind bars, unable to continue such indiscriminate acts of violence.
The officer also commended the courage shown by all three victims, acknowledging the profound impact these terrifying encounters have had on their lives.
Law enforcement officials hope that these women can begin to recover, reassured by the fact that their attacker is no longer a threat.
