Darlington man jailed for raping woman in hotel room

Thomas English, a 24-year-old man from Bushel Hill Drive, Mowden, Darlington, was convicted of raping a woman in a hotel room in Darlington. The incident occurred in January 2022 at the Premier Inn at Morton Park where the two had met online and became friends before spending the night together. During the encounter, English engaged in sexual activity with the woman, but despite her repeated requests for him to stop because she was getting sore, he persisted. The prosecution stated that the woman had to push him off to get him to cease his actions, and he continued for no more than 30 seconds, which he later tried to downplay in messages. The victim expressed her anger and pain in a statement, criticizing his last-minute admission of wrongdoing and affirming her strength. English pleaded guilty to the charge after the jury was sworn in. The judge sentenced him to three years in prison, imposed a five-year restraining order, and mandated that he sign the sex offenders' register for life. The judge remarked that it was a shame he didn't plead guilty earlier despite admissions in messages, and emphasized the victim’s clear distress during the assault. English showed remorse in his pre-sentence report, and his lawyer urged the court to consider his age and the initial consensual nature of the encounter.