A “GIGGLING” rapist has been caged for 15 years after he attacked a tourist when she asked him for directions to her hotel.
Tyler Higgins, 20, pounced on the terrified woman when she stopped him in a leafy park near Cardiff Castle at night.
Higgins laughed as he throttled the woman in a terrifying ordeal.
She was unable to call for help because her mobile phone had run out of battery and thought she was “going to die”, the court was told.
Prosecutor Matthew Roberts said: “The victim said he seemed almost amused at what he was doing – he was making giggling sounds.
“It was a violent rape and afterwards, incredulously, Higgins apologised to her.
“He said he could be forceful and told her he ‘gets like that.’”
The woman in her twenties was visiting the Welsh capital on July 15 when she became lost in the historic Bute Park.
Mr Roberts said: “She didn’t know how to get home and additionally her mobile phone was out of charge.
“She asked him for directions. He said he was out on a night walk and would not mind taking her there.
“He told her he knew a shortcut before grabbing her around the neck and slamming her to the floor.
“She said he strangled her for what seemed like ages.
“The victim was pulling his hair but she said he was stronger than her. She thought she was going to die.”
'I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE'
Cardiff Crown Court heard Higgins raped her twice causing the woman “incalculable damage”.
In a victim impact statement she said: “I am now afraid to be alone with another male. I feel I won’t be able to trust a man again. I thought I was going to die.’”
Higgins was arrested after South Wales Police released CCTV pictures and he was picked out by the woman in an identity parade.
Hashim Salmman, defending said: “He wishes he could take back what he did.”
Higgins admitted two charges of rape. He was aged 19 at the time of the offences and had no previous convictions.
Judge David Wynn Morgan told him: “You went about this in a cold-blooded way. All you were interested in was sexual gratification.
“You treated her as an object and the consequences of what you did have been extremely grave.
“Your victim was alone, unaware of her geography and intoxicated. There was a significant degree of planning, indeed cunning.
“You confused her. You disorientated her. You took full advantage of her in the dark and in woodland.
“You present a risk of serious harm to adult females.”
Higgins, of Cathays, Cardiff, was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Lucy Dowdall, said after the hearing: “We hope the conclusion of the case will help the victim with her healing process."
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?
Email us at [email protected] or call 02077824104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours
Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.
Source: Read Full Article
