Child rapist who inflicted 'severe harm' is jailed

Christopher Whittleton will face at least 14 years in jail

A child rapist whose victim still suffers "torturous" and "debilitating" flashbacks of the attacks two decades on has been jailed.

Christopher Whittleton was found guilty of two counts of rape of a child under the age of 13, rape of someone aged over 13, and rape, after a trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

The court heard the 58-year-old, of Highwood Road, Gazeley, in Suffolk, inflicted "severe psychological harm" on his victim and repeatedly told her "it was her fault".

Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley sentenced Whittleton, who appeared in court via video link from prison, to a total of 21 years in jail and one year on licence.

The court heard Whittleton first raped his victim in 2004 in a ditch before sexually abusing her on multiple occasions over the following seven years, until she was 17.

In 2016 the victim disclosed the rapes to her future wife, as well as a work colleague, before she reported the attacks to the police in 2018.

Whittleton was then convicted after a nine-day trial at which his victim said she had been "too scared to resist", and often "simply froze and let it happen".

During the sentencing hearing earlier, a victim personal statement read out on her behalf said she could no longer feel emotion.

Whittleton was sentenced to 21 years in prison and one year on licence following a trial at Ipswich Crown Court

It read: "I often find myself wondering what my life would be like if I had not had this experience as a child.

"I still experience debilitating flashbacks. They feel so real to me and it’s like I am transported back - I feel the same sensations.

"I can smell him and I can feel him on my body and his breath on me and I experience excruciating pain as if it was happening again.

"I don’t like going to sleep or the night-time as this would often be the time I would be abused - I am often found cowering in wardrobes and cupboards.

"I now suffer from severe panic attacks and disassociation episodes and in the past I have come to only to find I have broken a finger.

"The psychological distress I have experienced over the years and continue to experience to this day is nothing short of tortuous."

Passing sentence, Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley told Whittleton he had taken advantage of his victim

Whittleton was sentenced to 21 years for rape of a child under the age of 13, and 21 years and a year on licence for the second charge of rape of a child under the age of 13.

He was also sentenced to 18 years for rape of someone aged over 13, and 16 years for rape, with all sentences to run concurrently. He will serve at least 14 years in jail.

Passing sentence, Judge Talbot-Hadley said: "You took advantage of her and she was never able to escape what you have done to her.

"You took steps to ensure she would not report the matter, telling her you would make her watch the people she loved be hurt in front of her.

"She took these threats seriously and feared what you might do.

"The impact of child abuse should never be underestimated. It will often involve a life sentence of having to deal with that trauma.

"Whittleton, you are going to be incarcerated for a lengthy period."