York rapist jailed for six and a half years

YORK RAPIST JAILED FOR SIX AND A HALF YEARS

A rapist has been sentenced for a "horrendous" sexual and physical assault that resulted in the victim sustaining 30 separate injuries.

Matthew Edward Kilmartin, aged 32, was already serving a suspended sentence for hitting a man outside a nightclub when he committed the rape, as revealed in York Crown Court.

Kilmartin claimed that the woman consented to sex, but a jury convicted him of rape after a week-long trial.

Judge Stephen Ashurst described the case, saying: "It was not only rape, but also actual bodily harm.

The violence was not just at the beginning, but also when it was over and done, showing persistent violence as he took out his anger on her." The judge also noted that Kilmartin had a violent streak and an inability to control his temper, which contributed to the attack.

The court heard about additional assaults by Kilmartin beyond the nightclub incident.

He resided on Dalguise Grove, off Heworth Green, York.

Kilmartin denied the rape charge but admitted causing actual bodily harm.

He was sentenced to six years in prison, with an additional six months added to a 12-month suspended sentence from 2008.

Further, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subject to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order.

Family and an ex-girlfriend supported him during the trial, acknowledging the impact this would have on his family.

After sentencing, Detective Constable Ellie Stephen of York's Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing the victim's ordeal and the importance of reporting such crimes.

She stated: "Kilmartin has now been held to account for his appalling crime and has been given a sentence which reflects the seriousness of the attack.

I hope the outcome encourages other victims of sexual and violent abuse to come forward."