Rapist who faked victim WhatsApp messages jailed

Josh McDougal had denied rape but was found guilty by jurors

A "manipulative" rapist who fabricated messages in a bid to portray his victim as a liar has been jailed for 10 years.

Josh McDougal, 32, from Stockton, raped an 18-year-old woman at his home in July 2020, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

After being found guilty at a trial last year, he created fake WhatsApp posts in which the victim appeared to admit lying about the attack.

McDougal admitted perverting the course of justice, having told police voices in his head told him to create the false messages.

Prosecutor Paul Cleasby said McDougal invited the woman to his home to smoke cannabis in a safe place where she would not be "preyed upon by creepy men".

He then raped her despite her repeated protestations for him to stop, Mr Cleasby said.

McDougal had denied rape but jurors unanimously found him guilty after a five-day trial in August 2023.

'Scarred for life'

In November last year, while awaiting sentencing, he called 999 to say three masked men had burst into his home and demanded he hand over an envelope containing printed out WhatsApp messages.

McDougal told police the envelope had been pushed through his door and contained messages between his victim and another person in which she admitted lying about the rape.

Mr Cleasby said "no supporting evidence of any robbery was found" and the detective who had investigated the rape recognised McDougal's style of writing in the alleged posts.

McDougal admitted creating the messages himself on his mother's laptop and told police he had been "hearing voices in his head which had taken control of him".

In a statement, the woman said she had been "scarred for life" by the rape and McDougal's "selfish" attempt to "turn the tables" had re-victimised her.

She said he was a "dangerous and manipulative man" and she hoped he would now have the "decency" to leave her alone.

'Victim blaming'

Representing himself on the rape charge, McDougal, of Newton Walk, said the "spur of the moment" sex had been consensual and he disputed the woman's claims about the impact it had had on her.

Judge Stephen Earl warned McDougal, who was appearing via video link from prison, that "victim blaming" was "probably not [the] best line" of mitigation, prompting the rapist to apologise.

Mitigating for him on the perverting justice charge, Sarah Lish said McDougal had been on morphine at the time after being seriously injured in an accident, with the drug blamed for his "psychosis".

Judge Earl said McDougal's offending was of a "very predatory nature" and he was "incapable of any form of empathy" towards the woman.

The judge said the rape was of "such an horrendous nature against someone so young and vulnerable" and McDougal was the "very sort" of "creepy" man he had claimed to be protecting the woman from.

The judge said McDougal's "bizarre" attempt to conjure up evidence to discredit the woman was "awful".

An indefinite restraining order banning McDougal from contacting the woman or referring to her on social media was also handed down.