A Nottinghamshire man who researched how to clean up blood after he had beaten and raped a woman has been jailed for 15 years.
Scott Southall attacked the woman on Friday September 4, on what was his 28th birthday at his home in Rutland Crescent, Harworth.
He beat the victim, who is in her thirties, around the head and face before subjecting her to a violent sexual assault.
He then forced her to bathe and refused to let her leave his clutches until the following morning.
Southall then turned his attention to the internet where he researched how to cover up a rape, and specifically how to clean up blood. But his efforts were in vain and he was arrested.
Following a trial, he was found guilty of rape, assault causing actual bodily harm and false imprisonment.
On Friday he was sentenced to 15 years in jail for the rape, and a further three years each for the ABH and false imprisonment. These will run concurrently.
Southall will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
The sentence was questioned by Bassetlaw MP John Mann, who said Southall should have been jailed for longer.
He Tweeted: “Shame it’s concurrent sentences. They should be added together. Fifteen years is too lenient.”
Shame it’s concurrent sentences . They should be added together. 15 years is too lenient. https://t.co/FCJfR9IA3D
— John Mann (@JohnMannMP) April 18, 2016
MP John Mann said the sentence was ‘too lenient’
Detective Inspector Nikki Smith, of Notts Police, said: “This was a brutal and prolonged crime in which Southall not only left his victim bruised and needing stitches but caused her to endure the psychological and emotional trauma of being held captive afterwards.
“If that wasn’t enough, he then denied the charges and forced her to bear the turmoil of a trial and giving evidence.
“For all the work we did to secure this conviction, none of it would have been possible without the fantastic courage of the woman at the centre of this brutal crime. She has shown dignity and resolve in the face of great emotional strain. I hope this conviction has instilled in her the feeling of power and strength Southall tried so violently to take from her.”
