A landscape gardener who raped three women in a series of shocking attacks has been jailed for 24 years. Christopher Bell, 33, who left his victims traumatised was branded a “deeply disturbed individual” as he was caged for his series of brutal attacks. The monster pleaded guilty to six counts of rape, one of strangulation and one of assault by penetration, when he appeared before Durham Crown Court and has now been handed the lengthy jail term.
One victim revealed how she is now an “an empty shell”, feels heartbroken every day, suffering insomnia, nightmares, depression and has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Another said she is consumed by paranoia and can’t sleep as she suffers flashbacks. The third, who was strangled as she was raped, said she felt like she was going to die.
Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said the defendant was guilty of “heinous sexual offences” with those on the third victim taking place while he was under investigation for his offending towards the other two.
Judge Nathan Adams said he found it “deeply disturbing” that Bell told the author of the Probation Service pre-sentence report he “didn’t consider anything he did was wrong.”
Judge Adams told him: “It clearly shows you are a deeply disturbed individual.”
The judge passed eight-year consecutive sentences for the offences relating to each of the three victims, totalling 24 years, to be followed by three years of licence supervision.
David Callan, defending, said Bell, 33, of Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees, had worked as a landscape gardener and with horses and is of otherwise previous good character.
And he revealed that since his client was remanded in custody, more than seven months ago, he has taken religious instructions from a Roman Catholic priest.
When his sentence ends, Mr Callan said the defendant told him he intends to enter a religious order.
The sentence means Bell must serve at least 16 years behind bars before being eligible for parole, but due to the nature of his crimes he may have to complete the full 24 years in prison, prior to his release.
He will also have to sign the sex offender register for life, and was subject to a restraining order stopping him from contacting any of his victims for 30 years.
Judge Adams added: “Any sentence I pass today isn’t going to end the harm caused.
“The effect will last far longer. At the very least, it protects the public for a very long period of time.”
