News / Crime
28-year-old jailed for raping women he met online
A man has been jailed for nine years for raping two women he met on Snapchat and Tinder.
Tony Heath was sentenced for two charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday, where he was convicted by a jury in September.
The 28-year-old raped both victims at his home after inviting them to meet him there on two separate occasions.
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Heath sexually assaulted and raped his first victim when he called her home a few days after first speaking to her on Tinder. Fortunately, the victim was able to kick him off and escape.
A few hours after he met his second victim on Snapchat, Heath invited her home on the pretext of watching a film, where she was raped by the man in his late twenties.
Reading a statement to the court, one of the two victims said: “To this day, I have thought about it non-stop, although everyone said, ‘just don’t think about it’, but it is all I do.
“I go over what happened and felt like I was to blame, and I deserved it.But I was put in that situation by him, I was powerless, and I froze. He took every bit of dignity from me.”
“A couple of days after this happened, I started having nightmares,” a statement read to the court on behalf of the second victim said. “I had nightmares where I would be back there, in the room, and I couldn’t get him off. Now, more than six months later, I am still having these nightmares multiple times a week.
“I now struggle with all physical contact with men, including those closest to me, and I can’t let my dad or cousin hug me anymore. While I am relieved that I went through the investigation and trial, it doesn’t change what he did to me, the impact it is still having on me, which will continue for the rest of my life.”
At the time of the incidents, one victim was in her late teens and the other was in her early twenties.
Detective constables and officers in the case, Cecilia Lock and Alastair Lee said: “Both of the women in this case have shown extraordinary courage in coming forward to report Heath. Without their bravery in supporting a police investigation, convictions like this would not be possible.
“Heath’s actions have had a profound impact on his victims, who were vulnerable and younger than him, and I hope they can rebuild their lives.
“We hope this conviction sends out an important message – any acts of violence towards women and girls will never be tolerated and every victim deserves to be heard and supported.”
Main photo: Avon and Somerset Police
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