A very disturbed individual, Christopher Bell, the Sedgefield Rapist, who sexually assaulted and raped three women, has been incarcerated for his atrocious offences.
Christopher Bell, also referred to as Christopher Ward, 33, of Maple Grove, Sedgefield, acknowledged the offences on the second day of his trial last month. A judge deemed it “deeply disturbing” that he subsequently informed Probation staff that he believed his actions were not wrong.
Christopher Bell attended Durham Crown Court for sentencing on six charges of rape, one charge of strangulation, and one charge of assault by penetration. He entered a guilty plea after two victims had testified, while the third was pending testimony. Additional charges were retained on record.
All three victims appeared in court on Friday, September 26, to present impact statements. An adolescent at the time of the offences stated that she now feels like “an empty shell” compared to her once vivacious self, with daily heartbreak, insomnia, nightmares, sadness, and PTSD.
Another recounted being engulfed by paranoia, rendered incapable of sleep owing to intrusive flashbacks. The third victim, asphyxiated during the assault, expressed a sensation of impending death at his hands.
Prosecutor Jane Waugh highlighted the “atrocious sexual offences,” with the incidents involving the third victim transpiring while Christopher Bell was being investigated for the initial two cases.
Defence counsel David Callan, absolutely mental mitigation for raping young women, said Christopher Bell left school with qualifications, attended agricultural college, worked as a landscape gardener and with horses, and has “a strong work ethic” and previous good character. Remanded for over seven months, he has taken religious instructions from a Roman Catholic priest and plans to enter a religious order post-sentence.
Judge Nathan Adams said Christopher Bell’s guilty pleas came “about as late as they could be,” after maintaining innocence until trial began. He found it “deeply disturbing” that Bell told the Probation pre-sentence report author he “didn’t consider anything he did was wrong,” adding: “It clearly shows you are a deeply disturbed individual.”
The judge imposed eight-year consecutive sentences for offences against each victim, totalling 24 years, followed by three years’ licence supervision. Christopher Bell must serve at least 16 years before parole eligibility, possibly the full 24. He must sign the sex offender register for life and is subject to a 30-year restraining order barring contact with victims.
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