'Predator' jailed for rape of unconscious woman

A jury unanimously found Matthew Fox guilty following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court earlier this year

A man who raped an unconscious woman he had plied with drink has been jailed for 11 years.

Matthew Fox, 33, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice after trying to intimidate the victim into changing her account to police.

Officers said the woman, who was "highly intoxicated", had become separated from her friends and was incapable of giving consent.

Sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court, Judge Philip Grey said Fox, of Stumpacre, Bretton, Peterborough, had behaved in a "predatory fashion" and used the victim "like a sexual plaything".

The force said CCTV operators had been monitoring the pair and, as they left a bar, contacted police as they were concerned for her welfare.

When they were found by police, an ambulance was called to take the woman to hospital, where she regained consciousness several hours later.

'Disgusting and degrading'

Fox denied rape and told police the sex was consensual.

After his arrest, police said the victim received numerous calls to her mobile phone from an unknown number, found to belong to a relative of Fox, trying to intimidate her into changing her account to police.

Judge Grey said: "Young women have a right to go out with friends without being used like a sexual plaything.

"It’s this kind of predatory behaviour by far too many men that causes fear among women.

"You treated her in a disgusting and degrading way and then pressurised her into lying about it.

"You have very little remorse other than the remorse you’ll be going to prison and that will be for a very long time."

Det Con Abbie McQuaid, who investigated, said: “Fox took advantage of the woman being intoxicated.

"She was in no position to consent to sexual activity and required medical assistance.

“We have been working closely with businesses and partner agencies across the county to identify predatory behaviour and safeguard women and girls."

She praised the CCTV operators for contacting police.