Rapist bragged he 'saw women as pieces of meat'

Martin Crossley boasted he had attacked one woman while she was asleep and "after she had said no"

A "dangerous and predatory" rapist who bragged that he "saw women as pieces of meat" has been jailed for 19-and-a-half years.

Martin Crossley was already under investigation for raping one woman on multiple occasions, in the east Lancashire area in 2022, when he raped a teenage girl in 2023.

Lancashire Police said the 41-year-old had made the comments to a witness, and said about the first victim: "I've had sex with her when she's been asleep and after she's said no."

Crossley, of no fixed address but from Walton-le-Dale, pleaded guilty to five counts of rape and was handed an extended sentence with five additional years on licence at Preston Crown Court.

'Dangerous sexual predator'

Lancashire Police said the sentencing judge had ruled Crossley was a "dangerous offender" in legal terms, resulting in a tougher sentence.

In an impact statement to the court, Crossley's first victim spoke about how he had "destroyed her life".

"I could never describe enough how much I hate Martin for what he has done, he does not deserve to use up the oxygen of another human being," she said.

"I want to be able to move forward with my life finally."

She added: "Martin Crossley is a dangerous sexual predator, and I do not want anyone else to be at risk from suffering at the hands of him."

Det Con Alyson Richards said after the hearing: "No words I can say will ever truly reflect the impact Crossley's perverted and deviant behaviour has had and continues to have on his victims.

"I hope the sentence Crossley has received will allow them to begin to rebuild their lives knowing their attacker is behind bars for a long, long time.

"I want to take this opportunity to place on record my thanks to both victims for the bravery they have shown throughout this process and for the trust they placed in us to bring Crossley to justice."