A 40-year-old Somerset man has received an immediate custodial sentence of 22 years at Sheffield Crown Court after being convicted of seven sexual offences, including five counts of rape, alongside multiple charges of fraud and theft targeting women he met through dating websites.
Christopher Swain, previously residing at Hillside View, Bath, Somerset, appeared in the dock for sentence on Monday 15 June 2015 following a nine-day trial before a Crown Court jury.
The court heard that Swain orchestrated an elaborate web of deceit to ensnare female victims online. Presenting himself as an affluent property developer and successful businessman who owned a fleet of high-end vehicles, a racehorse, and enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle, Swain promised financial stability to win his victims’ trust.
In May 2012, Swain made contact with a 39-year-old woman from Northamptonshire via a dating platform. After progressing from online chats to phone calls and an initial meeting in Cheltenham, the pair began a relationship. Over time, Swain asserted coercive financial control over her affairs, confiscating her bank cards, obtaining her PIN numbers, and preventing her from accessing her postal or digital financial statements.
During the late summer of 2013, the victim discovered hidden statements revealing that Swain had accumulated approximately £20,000 of debt in her name through unauthorized transactions and cash withdrawals. When she challenged Swain over the discovery, he turned violently abusive. Over the subsequent six months, Swain subjected the woman to sustained physical abuse, repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting her.
While this abuse was ongoing, Swain initiated a relationship in September 2013 with a 43-year-old woman from Barnsley via the same online dating platform. Deploying the identical false persona, Swain gradually took control of her bank accounts. In January 2014, the Barnsley victim was alerted by her bank to suspicious activity while at work. Upon reviewing her statements, she discovered that £13,000 in cash had been withdrawn and an additional £2,000 spent on her credit card without permission.
The Barnsley victim contacted South Yorkshire Police, who attended her residential property and arrested Swain while he was inside the address. Detectives uncovered links to the Northamptonshire victim, prompting a joint investigation between South Yorkshire Police and Northamptonshire Police.
Swain entered guilty pleas to the fraud and theft matters but denied all sexual violence charges, forcing the Northamptonshire victim to endure a contested trial. In May 2015, the jury rejected his defence, convicting him across the indictment:
Five counts of rape
Two counts of sexual assault
Two counts of fraud by false representation (guilty pleas)
Two counts of theft (guilty pleas)
Lead investigator Detective Constable Dean Hamby stated:
“There are no words to describe the appalling abuse Swain inflicted on this woman when he realised he had been found out. He made his victim endure the traumatic ordeal of a trial and have to relive the pain and suffering at his hands. He is a vile man who thoroughly deserves the lengthy sentence he has been given. The courage of the two women involved is absolutely remarkable. I want to praise them for their bravery in coming forward and ensuring Swain is unable to prey on any other woman. He is a dangerous individual who trawled dating websites looking for women he believed could take advantage of and exploit.”
Under the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, both survivors are protected by mandatory, lifelong statutory anonymity. Any publication, broadcast, or public dissemination of information capable of leading to their identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Sentencing Swain at Sheffield Crown Court, the presiding judge highlighted the callous manipulation, severe financial devastation, and extreme physical and sexual violence inflicted on the victims, ordering him to serve an immediate prison term of 22 years.
The court further directed that Swain comply with statutory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for life and put in place protective restraining orders.
Image – Offender Custody Photograph
RELEASED – Currently around the Kettering, Northamptonshire area.
For the latest updates and offender details, follow us on the Offender Database Facebook Page. If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on how to report a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.