Double rapist locked up for life

Keith Evans, 39, of Elborough Road in Moredon, struck in the early hours of last December 22.

He raped the woman in an alleyway off Euclid Street after befriending her in Angelo's nightclub.

It was almost a carbon copy of a rape he carried out in Bath in the early hours of December 30, 1994 an attack which led to a six year jail term.

Passing sentence at Swindon Crown Court yesterday, Judge John McNaught told Evans: "There is ample evidence before me that you are a very dangerous man. The law requires me to pass an automatic life sentence.

"This was a brutal, horrible attack on an absolutely innocent woman. It is exactly the same in all its important details as the offence you committed in 1994 on another absolutely innocent person.

"You continue to present a serious risk to women."

Evans is married with a child, and the court heard that his wife was pregnant.

Evans' latest victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said afterwards: "The way he is, I think life should mean life for him. If I had my way he would be castrated."

The court heard that a Christmas drink led to the brutal rape last December.

The woman had been drinking in the town and met Evans, a forklift truck driver at Swindon Pressings, at Angelo's.

They left together after Evans suggested a curry although the woman told Evans that nothing sexual would take place.

After the two had a takeaway snack, they walked a short distance before the woman told Evans she didn't want him to accompany her any further, and began to walk away.

By this time, the two were a short way along Euclid Street.

The woman said: "The next thing I knew, I was grabbed from behind, around my throat, and lifted off the floor.

"He was strangling me. I couldn't breathe. I asked him to put me down. I thought he was just mucking about. He said 'Shut up or I'll kill you'."

Evans then forced her to the ground, forced her to perform a sexual act, raped her and punched her to the floor when she screamed. He then left.

Evans was filmed by a CCTV camera at Angelo's, and when he saw an image from the tape in the Evening Advertiser, he contacted a neighbour, 35-year-old soldier James Coates.

When Mr Coates read the article and asked Evans about his movements that night, Evans claimed he had gone to the St Tropez health club in Victoria Road and paid a prostitute for sex.

But Mr Coates contacted the police, who questioned Evans.

In court, Evans' counsel, Marc Willers, suggested that the victim had agreed to sex with Evans for £60, and when she screamed during the act he panicked, hit her and took her handbag to get his money back. She denied this. A member of the public later found the bag.

After the jury of eight men and four women delivered their verdict, prosecutor Lynne Matthews revealed Evans' previous conviction. The judge ordered that Evans should not be considered for parole for five and a half years although this does not necessarily mean that he will be released then.

Evans had admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, and for this offence he was given a consecutive 12 month sentence.

DC Ben Mant of Swindon police, who headed the investigation, afterwards praised the victim for coming forward and the readers of the Evening Advertiser.

He said: "Rape is the most traumatic experience any woman could endure. I am of the opinion that Evans is a considerable danger to women, and I am very pleased with the sentence.

"It is satisfying to know that this menace has been removed from the community and sent to prison for this totally reprehensible and heinous crime.

"Sadly, regardless of the verdict, this offence has impacted heavily on the life of the victim and my thoughts and sympathy are with her.

"We are very grateful to the Evening Advertiser for their coverage at the time of the offence. The arrest of Evans was as a direct result of a CCTV still picture appearing on the front page and members of the public contacting the police with information."

THE woman raped by Keith Evans on December 22 works overseas, but was visiting a friend in Swindon at the time of the attack.

After Evans was convicted and jailed for life, she praised the work of the detectives who brought him to justice and the professionals who helped her face the aftermath of her ordeal and the prospect of giving evidence in court.

And for Evans himself, she had nothing but contempt: "The way he is, I think life should mean life for him. He is a dangerous man, and I can't ever see him changing. If I had my way, he would be castrated. I am ecstatic at the verdict I feel like crying.

"The thought of him walking around Swindon was horrible. I would have been watching my back, I think. My eyes would have been on everybody, wondering if I would see him again. I would say to every woman who has gone through this that they should prosecute, because it is worth all the trauma.

"My treatment by the police has been excellent, and I can't fault them. CID have been brilliant. They have been with me every step of the way.

"I was also helped by Victim Support, and I have had my own counsellor. They familiarised me with the procedure of the court."

The woman says the rape has changed her, and that she is still trying to restore her sense of personal dignity to the level it was beforehand.

But she takes comfort from the knowledge that by coming forward and facing Evans in a courtroom, she has prevented him from preying on other women and from the fact that she can get on with her life while he spends much if not all of his in a prison cell.