A man, John Harvey Market Drayton Rapist, has been convicted of rape following an assault on a lady in Shrewsbury town centre in July of the previous year.
John Harvey, from Clive Barracks on Tern Hill, Market Drayton, was convicted at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday (Thursday, 13 February) after a nine-day trial.
In the early hours of July 7, 2024, the 25-year-old accosted an unfamiliar woman in her 20s in the Mardol vicinity of the town centre.
John Harvey subsequently sexually attacked the woman and raped her on two occasions. He thereafter absconded from the location.
The victim promptly notified the police following the attack, enabling authorities to swiftly find Harvey concealed in the men’s restroom at Shrewsbury Railway Station.
John Harvey was subsequently apprehended and indicted on two charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault. He was convicted yesterday on all three charges by a jury.
Detective Constable Sam Jones, from Shropshire’s Reactive CID, said: “I would like to thank the victim for her bravery and resilience throughout the entire investigation and trial.
“John Harvey committed an evil crime and despite admitting to the offences during interview he then denied them, subjecting the victim and her family to sit through a court trial.
“I welcome the guilty verdict given by the jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday as Harvey is clearly a very dangerous man.”
John Harvey has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Thursday 27 March.
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