This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-25259581
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Derby rapist Harbinder Khatkar jailed for life | Derby rapist Harbinder Khatkar jailed for life |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A rapist who was found guilty of attacking six women in one night has been jailed for life. | A rapist who was found guilty of attacking six women in one night has been jailed for life. |
A jury had previously acquitted Harbinder Khatkar of raping a woman in 2011. | |
Six weeks after the trial he attacked three women in the street in Derby then invaded the homes of three other women, all on 1 February. | |
The 37-year-old was tried again and convicted of the 2011 attack under double jeopardy laws. | |
It was the third time he had been tried over this attack, as jurors were unable to reach verdicts following the first trial. | |
One of Khatkar's victims on 1 February was repeatedly raped in her home over several hours, and Khatkar also threatened to kill her children. | |
Judge John Burgess said Khatkar, who refused to attend sentencing at Derby Crown Court, was "a highly manipulative man who appears to have no feeling for others". | |
"The damage he has done to these women is appalling, not least to the one woman who had to give evidence three times [since 2011], including at two earlier trials," he said. | |
"In the course of his trial he behaved in a way that demonstrated contempt for the court, the prosecutor, and anyone else that got in his way. | |
"If he can behave like that in court with everyone watching him, what must he be like with a vulnerable woman alone in her own home?" | |
'Very real danger' | 'Very real danger' |
Khatkar, of Sinfin in Derby, was found guilty of 18 offences, including five rapes, on Wednesday. | |
He will serve a minimum term of 14 years before he can be considered for parole. | |
Judge Burgess said: "Never have I been more convinced that there is no other alternative to life in prison. | Judge Burgess said: "Never have I been more convinced that there is no other alternative to life in prison. |
"There is a very real danger to women that if he is at liberty he will do this again. | "There is a very real danger to women that if he is at liberty he will do this again. |
"This is an exceptional case, not least because he invaded the homes of four women and attacked them." | "This is an exceptional case, not least because he invaded the homes of four women and attacked them." |
Khatkar's crimes included rape, robbery, causing actual bodily harm, assault, sexual assault and trespass with the intent to commit a sexual offence. | Khatkar's crimes included rape, robbery, causing actual bodily harm, assault, sexual assault and trespass with the intent to commit a sexual offence. |
One victim told Khatkar's trial that her life had been "completely devastated" by what he had done to her in her own home. | One victim told Khatkar's trial that her life had been "completely devastated" by what he had done to her in her own home. |
The Crown Prosecution Service successfully overturned the verdict at the Court of Appeal so he could be tried again for the 2011 rape. | |
His was the first retrial in Derbyshire under the amended double jeopardy law, which came into effect in 2005. | His was the first retrial in Derbyshire under the amended double jeopardy law, which came into effect in 2005. |
Previous version
1
Next version