Cardiff man jailed for raping woman in Bute Park
- Published
Tyler Higgins has been jailed after pleading guilty to two counts of rape
A man who raped a woman in a city centre park has been given a 15-year extended sentence.
Tyler Higgins, of Brithdir Street in Cathays, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape in the city's Bute Park.
Cardiff Crown Court heard the attack happened during the early hours of 15 July.
Higgins, 20, was jailed for 10 years and will spend five years on licence because of his risk of causing serious harm to the public.
The court heard he "confused, disorientated and took advantage" of his victim, who was enjoying a night out with friends.
Judge David Wynn Morgan described the rape as "cold-blooded" and said the victim "thought she was going to die".
In a victim impact statement, the woman said the rape left her "scared of doing anything" by herself.
Cardiff Crown Court heard the victim was visiting the city with friends and staying in a hotel near Queen Street.
After visiting some bars, she went to a house party in Cathays with a friend.
Upon leaving, the woman stopped on Cathays Terrace and asked Higgins for directions to her hotel.
CCTV showed him walking in one direction before changing direction after spotting the woman.
Matthew Roberts, prosecuting, said Higgins walked with the woman at 02:44 BST and told her the hotel was 10 minutes away.
CCTV showed Higgins leading his victim to the entrance of Bute Park
Further CCTV evidence revealed he took her away from the city centre and towards the entrance of Bute Park, near the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Mr Roberts said Higgins told the woman there was a short cut, at which point the victim "felt uncomfortable" and thought "something bad" was going to happen.
In the park, Higgins stepped in front her and asked her for a kiss, but she refused and said she wanted to get back to her hotel.
As the pair approached an exit on to Castle Street, Mr Roberts said this was the last opportunity for Higgins to rape the woman.
Higgins put his hand around her neck and "slammed" her to the floor. He was too strong for her she was unable to fight him off, the court heard.
Higgins told the woman there was a short cut through Bute Park before attacking her
Mr Roberts said Higgins' victim "thought she was going to die" and tried to speak "but no words came out".
"She again tried to push the defendant off with her hands and tried to pull his hair," he added
"It was clear that she could not overpower the defendant at all, so in fact she pretended that what he did was OK. It patently wasn't."
Higgins giggled as he raped his victim, the court heard, and apologised after the attack, saying he "sometimes gets like that".
The victim suffered injuries to her body in the attack, which Higgins initially denied when he was arrested.
He admitted rape once he was shown DNA evidence.
At Cardiff Crown Court, Judge David Wynn Morgan described the incident as "cold blooded"
The woman said she used to be "sociable, a happy and positive person," but now feels "completely different".
She said recently she was watching TV when she had a flashback.
"I immediately felt dirty and felt a lot of sadness and felt emotional," she said.
"This is something I cannot control. I immediately overthink and question myself about the incident and whether there's anything I could have done to stop it.
"The visions make me feel as though I don't have any freedom. Making me feel trapped in my thoughts."
Hashim Salmman, defending, said Higgins was an only child and made to leave home by his step-father at 16.
His relationship with his mother had broken down and his client was remorseful and had "strong feelings of regret and shame".
"He has caused untold damage and he wishes he could take back what he did," Mr Salmman said.
Judge Wynn Morgan said Higgins treated the young woman "as an object".
"The victim was alone, unaware of her geography, confused and intoxicated," he said.
"So far as culpability is concerned there was a significant degree of planning, indeed almost cunning."
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- Published16 August 2021
