Man jailed for rape and burglary in Rochdale

Richard Stott

A man who broke into a woman's home in Rochdale and raped her has been jailed.

Richard Stott (born 26/10/1986) of Hardman Street, Rochdale, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment today, Monday 26 April 2010, at Bolton Crown Court.

He admitted to two counts of rape and burglary at an earlier hearing.

At 9.30pm on Friday 29 January 2010, the 35-year-old victim went back to her home in Kirkholt, after dropping her partner off at the pub.

She realised that her partner had left his front door key in the car, so as she went in she put the key under the doormat for him.

The victim went to bed and, during the night, woke up to find the bedroom light on.

She got up, turned off the light and went back to bed but could hear floorboards creaking, so shouted her partner's name.

A voice shouted back in response but it did not sound like her partner so she got up again.

She found Stott standing on the landing, screamed and ran to get her mobile phone but Stott followed and knocked the phone out of her hand.

Stott raped the woman and during the attack, threatened that he would come back and kill her if she ever told anyone about it.

As he left, Stott stole a laptop computer, games consoles, games and the woman's mobile phone among other items.

Stott handed himself in at Rochdale Police Station the following day.

Detective Constable Mark O'Donnell, from the Major Incident Team, said: "Stott is now where he belongs and hopefully that will go some way to helping his victim get over the terrible ordeal he put her through.

"Good police work with the support of the community meant that Stott was quickly identified and he handed himself in knowing that it was only a matter of time before officers found him.

"Stott targeted this victim after finding her keys under the doormat. He was an opportunist and it is worth reminding people that incidents like this are rare in the extreme, but it is vitally important that we lock and secure our homes and keep valuables out of sight."