The County Durham Rapist, Mark Taylor, has been imprisoned for brutally assaulting and raping a lady.
In December 2023, Mark Taylor assaulted the woman as they were socialising at his previous home on Front Street in Shotton Colliery.
In an attack that lasted around 20 minutes, the 48-year-old dragged the victim to the floor, repeatedly beat her in the face, and raped her.
After Mark Taylor fell asleep, the woman left the residence and called a family member, who then called the police.
Officers responded to the site, arrested Mark Taylor, and an investigation was initiated.
He was later charged with rape, sexual assault, and assault resulting in actual bodily harm.
Taylor denied rape and sexual assault, but pleaded guilty to assault at the outset of his trial in Durham Crown Court last month.
Taylor was found guilty of all charges after a four-day trial. On July 5, he received an eight-year prison sentence.
In a victim impact statement delivered in court, the woman recounted how the incident has affected her life.
“My life has changed since that day,” she explained. “I’m constantly guilty and disgusting, and I feel like I’ll never be clean.
“I have scars on my body as a result of my attempts to erase traumatic memories. Regardless of how hard I try, I still feel dirty.
“I can’t eat or sleep well; I’m having nightmares of what happened to me. I simply want the awful memories and sensations to go away. “I want to be myself again.”
Detective Constable Adam Abram of Durham Constabulary, who headed the investigation, said: “The woman’s courage and strength have been truly commendable – her support for our investigation has resulted in Taylor’s arrest.”
“While today’s sentencing will not erase the sorrow or memory of what happened, I hope it will allow her to begin to move on.
“If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, please tell us; we will listen and believe you.
“We know it can be difficult, but we have specially trained officers who will support you every step of the way.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.