Blackpool rapist jailed for 13 years

Paul Mansfield, 28, of no fixed address was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment at Preston Crown Court after previously being found guilty of the offences.

The first incident occurred on Tuesday June 17 2014 when Mansfield befriended a homeless woman, 20.

He promised to help her and at around 4.30am that morning, he took her to a flat on Charnley Road where she was lead to believe she would have somewhere safe to stay.

The victim tried to go to sleep when Mansfield forced himself on her, biting her neck and striking her face as he raped her.

She managed to escape from the address and ran to Blackpool Police Station to report her ordeal.

Just months later when on bail for the rape whilst detectives were carrying out their investigation, Mansfield struck a second time.

On Thursday September 9 2014 he befriended a 21-year-old woman visiting from Glasgow who was on a night out in Blackpool.

She had become separated from her boyfriend after an argument and taking advantage of this as well as the fact she had been drinking, Mansfield offered to take her back to her hotel in a taxi.

They ended up on Loftus Avenue where he dragged the woman down an alley and held his hand over her throat whilst trying to rape her. She was able to push him off and ran away.

Mansfield stole her handbag and bank card during the attack, using it to withdraw money at a nearby cash machine.

Speaking after the court hearing, DC Lisa Wainwright from Blackpool CID said: “I am very pleased with today’s result. Paul ‘PJ’ Mansfield is a dangerous sexual predator who targeted women who were clearly intoxicated and vulnerable.

“What is even more disturbing is how he used the guise of befriending the victims, offering to help them when he had clear intentions of assaulting them to satisfy his own sexual urges. My view is that had the second victim not fought him off, he would have raped her too.

“The victims have shown extreme courage in coming forward and I hope that today’s result will help them to move on with their lives knowing that Mansfield, who has shown no remorse for his crimes, is now behind bars.”

Mansfield was also sentenced for possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply after he was found with a quantity of the drug during a search which took place at an address on Palatine Road on 2 April 2014.