A man has been sentenced to prison for raping a woman while she was on a 999 call to the police. Paul Batey, 35, ignored the victim’s pleas to stop, which were heard by emergency operators. Responding swiftly to the incident in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, officers intervened to halt the assault, causing the victim to feel traumatized and suicidal in the aftermath.
During the trial at Newcastle Crown Court, it was revealed that the woman sought help as Batey initiated the attack. The operator could hear her distress and Batey’s aggressive behavior in the background. Police arrived promptly, disrupting the assault in progress.
Upon police arrival, Batey, naked at a window, resisted their entry with profanity before being apprehended. Meanwhile, upstairs, officers found the victim who immediately reported the rape. The victim disclosed that she had met Batey that day, consumed alcohol together, and was taken advantage of in his home despite her objections.
According to the prosecutor, the victim pleaded with Batey to stop during the assault, but he persisted until the police intervened. The victim impact statement highlighted the severe emotional distress suffered by the victim, leading to suicidal thoughts and attempts post-incident.
Batey, with a history of non-sexual convictions, admitted to rape and assaulting a police officer. He received a five-year prison sentence, a restraining order, and a lifelong registration as a sex offender. In his defense, Batey’s lawyer acknowledged his admission of guilt as a mitigating factor, sparing the victim from the ordeal of a trial.