A man from Middlesbrough who attacked and raped a woman has been sentenced to 14 years in jail last week after having raped his victim on three separate occasions. Daniel Yule, 34, was charged and convicted with three counts of rape and sexual assault offence.
The Teesside Crown Court found Yule guilty of all four charges last July 27 despite having denied the charges against him during a previous hearing in September last year.
During his sentencing hearing, Yule’s victim read her impact statement to the court where she recalled Yule offering her a choice of symbols-- a ring, a hammer and a knife to represent being raped, beaten or stabbed to death during one of his attacks.
According to Teesside Live, the woman said she had opted for death but Yule told her that “wouldn’t be much fun” and proceeded to rape her. In another attack, she was dragged by her hair and punched before pulling down her trousers and raping her. During the third attack, Yule told his victim not to fight him as he raped and sexually assaulted her. He also told the woman that no one would believe her story if she reported the attacks.
Yule, who appeared in court via a video link from Durham prison, was observed to have not shown any reaction as Judge Crowson handed down his 14-year prison sentence. He was also given an indefinite restraining order, which bans him from contacting his victim.
In the victim’s statement, the woman told the court, "I often wish he had killed me so I didn't have to remember anymore. I will never forget what he did to me, he put me through hell. This will come to the grave with me."
The woman told of how she had been suffering from panic attacks and that although her bruises have healed, her mental scars will forever remain.
Yule’s legal representative, Paul Cleasby on the other hand, told the court that his client has no previous offenses of the same nature although he has had previous convictions for drunk driving, criminal damage and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Cleasby said that Yule also suffers from significant ill health and that his prison sentence will weigh heavily on him compared to a person who is in a better state of health. Yule has no experience of ever being jailed or taken into custody. His wife was present in court during his sentencing and is said to stand by her husband, offering whatever support she can provide given the circumstances.
