Drug dealer raped woman after prison release

A convicted drug dealer who raped and stabbed a stranger not long after being released from prison has been jailed for 12 years.

Kyle Pauley, 24, threatened the woman at knifepoint and raped her in Benfleet, Essex, on 22 September.

His victim told Basildon Crown Court she would never feel normal again and said: "I will always be scared of him."

Pauley, of Brook Road in the town, was sentenced on Thursday after admitting wounding with intent, possession of a knife and two offences of rape.

He will serve a further seven years on licence upon his eventual release.

Police were called to near Villa Road Recreation Ground at about 23:00 BST after the attack.

The victim had been taken to a nearby field and raped, before being stabbed as she tried to push Pauley away.

Officers found the rapist within an hour and the woman was taken to hospital with a serious but not life-threatening injury.

Pauley was linked to the attack by CCTV footage, DNA evidence and a GPS monitoring tag he was wearing that placed him at the scene.

"It was established Pauley had recently been released from prison after serving a sentence for drug dealing," Essex Police said.

He was charged with the four offences and pleaded guilty to them on 24 October.

In a statement, the victim said: "It is all about that night – I can't move forward and don't feel normal. I don't know if I will again."

Her father added: "The feeling of being unable to protect my daughter from such a vicious attack has left me emotionally and mentally exhausted, which has led to physical exhaustion."

The victim was praised for her bravery by Det Insp Lydia George, a senior officer in the case.

"She has remained steadfast in her account and support for the investigation, helping us build our case and take a dangerous and predatory criminal off our streets," George said.

"She is a credit to herself and her family."

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.