John Hutton, formerly of Mendlesham, jailed for nine years for rape of ‘vulnerable’ woman
A 34-year-old man has been jailed for raping a woman after a night out.
John Hutton, formerly from Mendlesham, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, where he was sentenced to nine years in jail.
He was told he must serve a minimum of six years behind bars with the remainder of the sentence to be served on licence.
Hutton had previously denied the charge of rape but was convicted on May 3 following a five-day trial into the attack.
The offence occurred in a village near Bury St Edmunds on July 7, 2021, when the victim, a woman aged in her 30s, had been on a night out with friends and had met Hutton, whom she knew.
Hutton socialised with the group and then walked the victim home later that evening, before raping her.
The court heard that the victim recalled being unable to walk properly on her way home, was violently sick and, later, was unable to move.
This led her to believe that her drink had been spiked or that she had been drugged. Following analysis of her blood samples, the toxicology report found traces of cocaine in her system.
The investigation was not able to determine who may have drugged the victim, but the court heard that it would have been apparent to Hutton that she was in no fit state to consent.
DNA samples taken from the victim matched Hutton, helping to provide key evidence that he was the man who raped her.
In her victim personal statement, she described how the incident has impacted her life, saying: “The time I have lost because of all of this is no longer retrievable.
“The days that were lost, laying in bed at my parents’ house after it happened, unable to talk; unable to sleep; just laying and feeling empty, not knowing if I was ever going to feel ‘normal’ again.”
Hutton was also given a restraining order and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.
Detective Constable Kelly Dale, the investigating officer, said: “Hutton took advantage of a vulnerable woman who he should have helped.
“This will never be acceptable and the police will do everything in their power to support victims of these abhorrent crimes and bring offenders to account for their actions.”
“I am pleased to see that justice has prevailed. and I hope the victim can take some closure from this result to rebuild her life.”