‘I raped you, that makes me scum, I deserve to die’ – rapist who text confession is found guilty of four sex attacks

Shaun Elliott Paul, who a court heard is 6ft 8in tall and 20 stone, is facing years in prison for beating and forcing his victim to have sex.

In a trial at Durham Crown Court which lasted three weeks, a jury heard Paul attempted to strangle his victim, who was close to passing out.

During an ordeal lasting several hours, the victim fled naked or semi-naked down a back lane on two occasions.

“She was caught and dragged back,” said Robin Turton, prosecuting. “She was dragged by the hair across the Tarmac and gravel, screaming as she went.

The court heard Paul fell asleep after forcing sex on the woman for the last time.

“The victim was able to escape and run to the house of a friend,” said Mr Turton.

“She arrived crying, bleeding, wearing no shoes, and with nothing on under her dressing gown.

“There were scratches, cuts and bruises to her face, head, shoulder and upper chest.

“She also had a bruise on her thigh and a grazed knee.”

Paul later sent the victim a text message.

It read: “I raped you, that makes me scum, I deserve to die.”

Paul, 24, of Burnip Close, Easington Colliery, denied five charges of rape.

He admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Paul claimed the victim consented to sex, although he conceded to police he was responsible for injuring her that evening.

The jury convicted Paul of four charges of rape.

Judge Christopher Prince adjourned passing sentence for the preparation of medical and probation reports.

The judge thanked the jury for going ‘above and beyond’ their public duty to try a ‘long and difficult’ case.

Paul was remanded in custody with instructions from the judge to treat him as a suicide risk in prison.