Rapist attacked hours after dating app match

BEAST ALSO JAILED FOR HARASSING AN EX

- By SOPHIE CORCORAN

A HUDDERSFIELD rapist attacked a woman hours after matching with her on dating app Badoo.

Ashley Hardman, 25, continuously asked to see the woman hours after matching on the site, but it later became clear he already knew more details about her life than she had imagined. Prosecutor Fen Greatley-Hirsch told Leeds Crown Court on Thursday that the pair moved their conversation over to WhatsApp, with Hardman, of Fitzwilliam Street, continuously asking the woman to meet up on July 20 this year.

Mr Greatley-Hirsch said: "At that stage, she didn't think much of it. She went out for the day with her family and when she got home he was persistent. Because she had no other plans, she agreed. He took an Uber to her address and shortly after the two were socialising and listening to music.

"She made it very clear to him that was all that was taking place that evening. He was looking around her property and was able to see when he looked through cupboards she had some vodka and he asked if he could get some pop to mix and she agreed to have a few drinks."

The court heard the pair went to the shop and returned to the woman's home but she was "careful" to keep an eye on how much she was having, and even refused to drink a measure Hardman had poured as she "didn't want another drink."