Rapist has more time added on to 10-year jail spell

VICTIM HITS OUT AT 'SYSTEMIC FAILINGS'

- By JADE MCELWEE

A TEESSIDE rapist who went on the run for over three weeks has had his decade-long jail term increased.

David Morrison was convicted of rape and sexual assault in August and the 44-year-old engineer was given bail to get his “affairs in order”.

However, on October 6, Morrison failed to attend a court hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest, and on October 24, the day of his sentencing hearing, Morrison was nowhere to be seen.

In his absence he was sentenced to 10 years behind bars.

The Redcar man was eventually tracked down in Spain on November 18.

Morrison, of Wilton Castle Lane, was extradited to the UK and appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Friday, November 28.

He was charged with failing to answer to court or police bail as soon as practicable. He was sentenced to a further term of imprisonment of four weeks, consecutive to the rape term.

A jury previously heard how Morrison left the woman in a hotel room before returning with another man, who he paid to have sex with her to fulfil his own twisted fantasy.

Summarising the case in sentencing, Recorder Paul Reid, who presided over the trial, said: “You [Morrison] started laughing and said ‘I have got a present for you.’ You said: ‘Do what you want to ... her, I'm going for a [cigarette] and some wine.”