Man who raped woman in 'harrowing' attack jailed

A man who choked and raped a woman during a sustained and "extremely harrowing" attack has been jailed for 18 years and nine months.

Jon-Paul Fayle, 32, attacked the victim on the night of 24 November 2023 after locking the door to a flat in Douglas that she was in and hiding the key, Douglas Courthouse heard.

The woman managed to escape the following morning and reported the abuse to a nearby shopkeeper.

Deemster Graeme Cook said Fayle had shown no remorse for his actions, which had had a "serious effect" on the victim. He was found guilty of offences including rape, attempted rape and sexual assault at a trial in September.

The court heard Fayle had overpowered the woman and threatened her with more violence when she tried to leave the flat, before going on to repeatedly choke and abuse her.

In a statement read to the court, the woman said she had become "jumpy" following the attack and had struggled with basic tasks like getting out of bed in the lead-up to the trial.

Sentencing him, the deemster said Fayle had subjected the woman to a "prolonged ordeal", which had been "extremely harrowing".

He said in denying the offences, Fayle had accused the woman of not telling the truth, adding: "There's only one liar here and that's you."

The court was told Fayle had an extensive record of previous criminal convictions, which included violence against women.

He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

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