NICHOLAS HOWARD, SWINDON RAPIST, SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON
In a case that has shocked the community of Swindon, Nicholas Howard, a 38-year-old man, was sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of raping a woman in February 2019.The conviction came after a three-day trial at Swindon Crown Court, where jurors took just three hours to reach a unanimous verdict of guilt.
Howard, who previously managed the Swindon-based cider company Circle Cider, faced serious charges despite having admitted to the police during an interview later that year that he had committed the act.
His admission, however, did not prevent the trial from proceeding, as the jury was presented with detailed evidence and testimonies that painted a disturbing picture of the assault.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Jason Taylor QC did not hold back in his condemnation of Howard’s character and actions.
He described Howard as arrogant and callous, emphasizing the lack of remorse shown by the defendant throughout the proceedings.
The judge stated, “You did this for your own sexual gratification, betraying how little respect you actually had for her.
You must have known it was against her will from the outset.
She told you again and again she didn’t want it but you carried on anyway.” Judge Taylor further highlighted the brief duration of the assault, which lasted only a few minutes, yet demonstrated a blatant disregard for the victim’s well-being and the long-term trauma inflicted upon her.
“During those few minutes, you showed a callous disregard both for her and the long-term damage you would cause her,” he added.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Howard had been in bed with his victim in early February 2019.
Despite her repeated pleas for him to stop, he continued the assault, which she later confronted him about.
Howard reportedly responded that he would turn himself into the police if it would make her feel better.
Subsequently, he confessed to a friend that he had raped the woman, describing his demeanor as cold and passive, possibly saying, “If I hang for it, I hang for it.” The friend, under cross-examination, expressed doubts about the sincerity of Howard’s character based on this confession.
The victim initially did not report the incident to the police.
It was only after attending a sexual assault referral centre that she decided to speak with detectives about her ordeal.
Howard was interviewed voluntarily at Gablecross police station in early March, where he answered questions without legal representation and appeared to admit to the rape, stating, “We started having sex.
I asked her to look at me.
She said she didn’t want to, I don’t like it, at which point I didn’t stop.” However, by the time of a subsequent interview in the autumn, Howard had changed his account, claiming he had been researching the definition of rape on the Crown Prosecution Service’s website and no longer believed he had committed the offence.
Prosecutor David Scutt dismissed this as nonsense, accusing Howard of arrogance and suggesting he did not believe his victim would pursue the matter to trial.
In conclusion, Judge Taylor sentenced Nicholas Howard to seven years in prison.
Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, reflecting the severity of his crime and the impact on the victim’s life.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of justice and accountability in cases of sexual assault within the Swindon community.
