A Co Armagh soldier was sentenced to nine years for raping a woman he did not know in Shrewsbury last year.
John Harvey, who is originally from Portadown but with an address of Clive Barracks in Tern Hill, Market Drayton, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court earlier this month for two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The 25-year-old was found guilty in February by a jury following a nine-day trial.
During the trial the court heard how in the early hours of July 6, 2024, Harvey approached a woman in her 20s, who he did not know and had never met before, in the Mardol area of the town centre.
Harvey then sexually assaulted the woman and raped her twice before fleeing the scene.
The victim contacted police immediately after the incident, and officers were able to quickly locate Harvey hiding in the men’s toilets at Shrewsbury Railway Station. He was charged the following day.
Harvey initially told officers in interview that he carried out the attack, but changed his plea to not guilty at court making his victim, as well as her family, face a crown court trial.
As well as the nine-year custodial sentence Harvey was also given a three-year extended license for his release, and will be added to the sex offenders register for life.
Detective Constable Sam Jones, from Shropshire’s Reactive CID, said: “I am extremely pleased with the sentence that has been given to Harvey by the judge today, as he is a danger to the wider public, in particular women.
“In July last year Harvey committed a purely evil crime, and despite admitting to the offences during a police interview when he was arrested, he then changed his story at court, subjecting his victim and her loved ones to sit through a trial and relive that awful night.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the victim for her bravery and resilience throughout the entire investigation and trial.
“I hope this sends a strong message that West Mercia Police will do everything in our power to get justice for victims of sexual violence by putting perpetrators before the courts.”
