Man jailed for 22 years for knifepoint sex attacks

David King was said to "terrorise" his victims

A Lincolnshire man who repeatedly raped a woman at knifepoint and sexually abused two girls has been jailed for 22 years.

David King, 42, of no fixed address, was found guilty of six charges after a trial at Lincoln Crown Court.

Judge Godsmark told King he had terrorised the adult victim of his rapes and had caused substantial psychological harm to the child sexual assault victims.

John McNally, mitigating for King, told the court he had a difficult childhood and had considered self harm.

'Constantly suspicious'

The offences, some of which occurred in the Louth area, included sexual assaults on two children aged under 13 and two other charges of rape on a woman.

Impact statements from each of the three victims were read out in court.

One of King's victims, then a child, described how she regularly suffered from anxiety and panic attacks.

Now an adult, the woman said she went from being a "shy, happy girl" to someone who was unable to attend school.

"It paralysed me," the woman added, "I felt like a prisoner in my own body."

A second victim, now an adult, described how her mental health had deteriorated and she now struggled to trust men.

"I really struggle to trust anyone," the woman revealed. "I am constantly suspicious."

An impact statement was also read out from a third victim, who was raped by King as an adult.

She described how King had left her terrified of knives.

"The fear of him being free scares the life out of me," she added.

The trial was held at Lincoln Crown Court

King was arrested in 2020 following a complaint to the police.

The court heard King had no previous convictions and had been in custody since December.

Mr McNally said: "The remand to prison has been keenly felt by him."

Passing sentence, Judge Nigel Godsmark KC said he was satisfied King felt entitled to take sexual gratification from women and girls.

King was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Judge Godsmark also made a restraining order which prevents King from contacting any of his victims.

Follow BBC Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]