A St George rapist, Thomas Osbourne, has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in jail following a conviction at trial.
Thomas Osbourne, also known as Solomon Osbourne, was convicted by a majority decision of two charges of rape against a lady perpetrated earlier this year.
On Friday, September 27, a 33-year-old, Thomas Osbourne, from St George was sentenced to nine and a half years in jail at Bristol Crown Court.
All victims of sexual offences are legally entitled to anonymity. The victim in this case composed a statement, which was presented in court, expressing that she now feels apprehensive of all men.
She stated, “Regarding the impact on my life and how I navigate it, I find articulating my feelings challenging and exceedingly difficult.” I am no longer the person I once was.
“This has also caused me to completely isolate myself from my family and friends, because I don’t want to talk or even think about everything that happened.
“Thomas Osbourne has completely ruined my trust in anyone and in particular men.
“I now feel scared of all men. I always used to try to see the good in people and feel as though that has been taken from me.
“Now, I always worry about what someone’s intentions would be and if the same things are going to happen again.”
Thomas Osbourne will be added to the sex offender’s register indefinitely, and his criminal record shared with the Disclosure and Barring Service.
DC Molly Vockings, who works within our Operation Bluestone dedicated rape and serious sexual assault investigation team, said: “As a department, we are incredibly proud of the result of this conviction. Not only because the criminal justice system has held someone accountable for their despicable actions, but because of what this means for the victim.
“From the day this investigation began, all the way through until sentencing, she has demonstrated her resilience and courageous nature.
“We never underestimate the strength a victim shows to report such heinous offences and support a successful prosecution, especially when faced with a rapist like Thomas Osbourne who time after time refused to acknowledge the horrific crimes he committed.
“The victim stated she didn’t want others to be at risk of Thomas Osbourne and it is because of her bravery that this dangerous individual is no longer on our streets. We hope she takes pride in what she has achieved because she has most certainly helped to protect other women from his predatory behaviour.”
DC Vockings added: “We would urge anyone who is a victim of a sexual offence to come forward and tell us what has happened.
“We cannot promise every case will lead to a conviction, but what we can promise is we will do our utmost to get you the justice you deserve. You will be believed and you will be able to access any support services that could help you.
“It matters not whether it happened five minutes ago, or five decades ago, we are here for you.”
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.