A bullying rapist who subjected a vulnerable woman to a horrifying campaign of abuse has lost a bid to have his conviction overturned. Emmanuel Richards has also lost an appeal to have his 15 year prison sentence reduced.
Richards, then 42, was jailed following a trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in January. The jury heard how he strangled his victim until she passed out and raped her on several occasions.
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The thug, nicknamed 'Tank', threw a phone at her and then punched her in her jaw, causing her permanent disfigurement to her face, and even pinned a sign on her front door saying she had chlamydia, the court heard. On one occasion he chased her round a flat with a machete and another time, he boiled a kettle of water and threatened to pour it over her.
His victim, whose identity was not published for legal reasons, described how she had been living in 'constant fear' of Richards, and suffered nightmares about the abuse. She told the court that she suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and has regular panic attacks as a result of what she went through.
"I am scared to go out alone to the shop or even to go and see my family," she said. "I have been left with what I feel is an obvious disfigurement to my face and I cannot wear lipstick. I suffer really badly with PTSD and panic attacks as well as depression.
"I get scared and intimidated around men. I now finally feel I have closure and feel safe now he is behind bars, but despite my efforts to feel safe in public I still don’t."
Richards, of Stanford Street, Ashton, was jailed for 15 years after being convicted of three counts of rape, two counts of assault, and coercive and controlling behaviour. Judge Tina Landale described Richards as a 'dangerous' man.
At a hearing at London's Appeal Courts Clare Ashcroft, representing Richards, argued the conviction was 'unsafe' because the judge should not have allowed 'extremely old sexual convictions', which took place when Richards was a teenager, to be disclosed to the jury. Ms Ashcroft also said there were 'proper arguments with which to attack [the victim's] credibility in relation to the rape charges', such as a delay in making the complaints and that the complaints were only made after a 'great deal' of contact with the police and after Richards' previous conviction's were disclosed to the victim under Clare's Law.
The appeal also heard allegations that the victim had been paid £900 by a man to make the accusations in revenge for a previous relationship Richards was said to have had. This wasn't disclosed to the court, Ms Ashcroft said.
Richards also asked the appeal court permission to 'adduce fresh evidence' from a witness, which it was claimed, 'casts doubt upon the victim's credibility and her motivations for making the rape complaints'.
In response the Gareth Roberts, representing the prosecution, said 'it was right' that the jury learnt of the past convictions and denied claims the victim had been paid had not been disclosed.
Mr Roberts also said the defence had known about the witness prior to the trial and that he had been 'reluctant' to take part, which 'undermines the assertion that he would be a willing and important witness'.
Appeal judges Lady Justice Carr, Mr Justice Cavanagh and Judge Flewitt rejected the appeal on all grounds. They also ruled that the year jail term was 'justified' and 'not disproportionate to the overall criminality'.
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