15 years for man who raped woman in Basildon underpass

Basildon Crown Court was told horrific details of how Nathan Morgan, 23, of no fixed address, smashed the woman’s head against the ground before raping her late in the evening of Friday, July 18.

The attack happened yards from Basildon police station, as the victim walked home after a night out with friends – with people walking on the road above.

Judge John Lodge described the attack as “every woman’s worst nightmare”.

Cyrus Shroff, prosecuting, told the court the 26-year-old victim left the Moon on the Square pub in Basildon town centre at 11.30pm to start the short walk to her home.

As she approached the underpass at Broadmayne, near the town’s Crown and magistrates’ Court, she pulled off her earphones and heard footsteps behind her.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sped up, at which point Morgan ran at her, and punched her on the back of the head, making her fall forward on her hands and knees.

She screamed and he yelled: “Shut up!”

The victim tried to get up but Morgan pulled her back by her T-shirt, and it ripped.

He hit her again on the back of the head, pushed her to the ground, put his hand over her mouth and told her not to move.

The victim had her mobile phone in her hand, but he slammed it against the concrete, smashing the screen.

The court heard the victim bravely continued to struggle and scream, but Morgan punched her again and smashed her face on the concrete, before raping her.

Mr Shross said: “The victim said Morgan was very angry throughout the attack.

“She thought she was going to die.”

At some point the victim thought she briefly lost consciousness, and during this time Morgan seems to have been disturbed, running off with the woman’s handbag.

The victim came to and staggered to the top of the underpass in time to see Morgan running towards The Gore.

She found her phone was still working, so she called a friend, who arrived in a taxi and took her to the police station.

As well as the sexual assault, she suffered concussion and cuts and bruises on her face, legs and thighs, the court heard. Officers found Morgan’s DNA on the woman’s clothing and launched a manhunt and a media appeal.

Morgan handed himself in at Grays Police Station within days, but refused to say anything to police. At one point, he attempted suicide in the cells.

He admitted rape at an early stage in the case.

Passing sentencing Judge Lodge said: “This case is every woman’s worst nightmare.

“People who go out in the evening are entitled to think they are permitted to walk home safely, through the centre of a very large town.

“This attack happened within 100 yards of a police station, at a time when people were leaving pubs and clubs.

“You launched a vicious and sustained attack on an innocent stranger who you did not know.

“The violence and psychological harm you caused your victim puts this attack in the most serious category of offending.”

VICTIM IS STILL TOO TERRIFIED TO GO OUT ALONE

victim of Nathan Morgan’s savage
sexual attack told the court of the
terrible impact it had on her life.
The courageous 26-year-old woman
was in Basildon Crown Court on
Friday to see the man who raped her
locked up for 15 years.
Smartly-dressed, she remained dignified
and composed as horrific
details of the rape were read out in
court.
Summarising the woman’s victim
impact statement prosecutor Cyruss
Shroff said: “She was absolutely terrified
throughout the incident.
“It has affected her at work considerably.
“She can barely go out on her own
and has to have people with her.
“She was terrified the defendant
would find her and finish off what he
has done. She cannot get past that.
“She never saw his face and did not
knowwho he is.
“At the end of her statement she
says there is one question she has
never had an answer to – and that is
‘why?’”
Morgan remained in prison for the
hearing, appear via video link,
dressed in a T-shirt with an open,
checked shirt over the top.
He remained completely emotionless
as details of the rape were read
out and as his 15-year sentence was
announced.
However, in a letter read to the
court by his barrister, Matthew
Bagnall, he said he was sorry.
He went on: “I can’t believe I was
capable of such a terrible crime. I am
sorry I put her through this disgusting
thing and I am ashamed.
“I know ‘sorry’ will never be
enough for the pain I have caused to
this lady.”
Mr Bagnall said his client had
pleaded guilty at an early stage and
was remorseful for what he had done.
However, Morgan offered no explanation
for the attack.

MORGAN WAS 'SPARTAN' CAR VANDAL

RAPIST Nathan Morgan
begun his criminal career
with a bizarre campaign of
attacks on cars in Langdon
Hills and Laindon.
In 2009, aged 18, he
scratched obscene pictures,
along with his nickname
“Spartan” and the phrases,
“Spartan will be back” and
“Spartan strikes again” on
124 cars in the area.
During the spree, which
lasted about six weeks, he
taunted police with boastful
calls to Basildon police station
from a phone box. He
would phone and repeat the
message he scratched on the
cars: “Spartan will be back,
Spartan will strike again”,
before hanging up.
Morgan grew up in Langdon
Hills in a respectable family.
He was eventually brought
to justice for damaging the
cars being caught red-handed,
scratching his nickname on a
Renault in Crosse Courts,
Laindon.
His spree had caused so
much uproar in the community
that when he was finally
caught, magistrates, fearing
reprisals, were forced to
remand him in custody for his
own safety.
When the case came to
court, police and probation
staff were unable to offer any
explanation for his offending.
Defence barristers said he
suffered depression after
splitting with a girlfriend and
had problems with cocaine
and alcohol.
Morgan also admitted he
had enjoyed the police attention
his crimes attracted.
He was locked up for 16
months for the offences.
At Friday’s sentencing hearing
for the rape, defence barrister
Matthew Bagnall made
no reference to mental health
problems or drug addiction.
Judge John Lodge said
Morgan’s bizarre previous
offending would not influence
his sentence, but he did
remark that it showed he
seemed to act.

Policeman’s praise for the brave victim

THE head of Essex Police
Sexual Offences Team praised
the victim for her strength,
bravery and dignity – and said
he hoped she would now feel
able to move on in her life.
Det Chief Insp Scott Cannon,
described the attack as an
“isolated, but vicious attack”
by a “nasty and dangerous
offender”. He added: “I would
like to pay tribute to the victim
for the strength, bravery and
dignity she has shown
throughout this investigation.
“She gave exceptional
evidence and supported us in
bringing this prosecution.
“She is being supported by
specially-trained services in the
community and I hope this
outcome will in some way help
her to move forward with her
life.
“She has suffered significant
psychological trauma and
physical injuries as a result of
this attack.”
Mr Cannon welcomed the
15-year sentence handed down
to the rapist.
He said: “Morgan is a nasty,
dangerous offender who needs
to be in prison for a long time
for the safety of the community.
“In terms of the
investigation, police carried out
advanced forensic work, which
led to Nathan Morgan being
identified, charged and
remanded very quickly.”