Sadistic rapist jailed for life after copycat attack
Sadistic Alexander McArthur had been given a life sentence for the earlier attack and was out on licence at the time he subjected a woman to a brutal seven-hour sexual nightmare at knifepoint in her own home.
The 47-year-old, who was living in Snow Hill at the time, and who has also viciously attacked a third woman in the past, showed no remorse during a weeklong trial.
He had pleaded not guilty to four charges of rape, one charge of assault by penetration and one charge of false imprisonment, but was convicted by a jury at Bristol Crown Court.
He refused to attend his sentencing hearing at the court today ,where it was said he may have attempted to commit suicide.
The rapist was given a 20-year life sentence and will have to serve at least half the term behind bars before the Parole Board will consider any application for release.
He will be on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
Judge James Tabor QC said he thought the defendant should not be released from prison until "age and infirmity" meant he was no longer a risk to the public.
The court heard that the defendant had been given a life sentence a decade ago for a violent attack on a woman who was similarly bound and had plasters stuck over her eyes.
Ignatius Hughes, defending, said his client had also attempted to have that woman murdered and conceded that McArthur was a dangerous offender.
The jury had heard McArthur's latest victim feared she was going to be murdered as she was sadistically raped in her Bath home on November last year.
In a filmed police interview played in court the jury could see the badly bruised face of the woman as she described her ordeal.
She said McArthur had forced his way into her flat, thrown her against a wall in her hall and punched and shouted at her.
The attack moved to her sitting room where the defendant ripped the woman's clothes off before dragging her into a bedroom.
She said: "All I can remember is this nightmare that went on from the hall to the living room, to the bedroom, to the kitchen. He got a knife and he tied me up."
She recalled lying on a bed while McArthur ran the point of a vegetable knife from her kitchen over her body, scoring lines across her skin, as he "played games" with her.
Describing how he pushed a large continental pillow over her face the first time he raped her, she said: "He put plasters over my eyes so I could not see it (the pillow) coming. He could have killed me. He was pressing more and more down.
"It was like when cats catch mice then let them go. That's what he did all evening."
She added: "I think he thumped me really badly. He went into a frenzy of attacking me where he just punched me and punched me and punched me."
She said McArthur, who had talked of killing her, had acted like a "psycho" and had been obsessed with washing, putting her in the shower more than once.
She said he had strangled her until she fell unconscious and that when she had come round his hands were around her neck.
At one point, he dressed her in a dress and then raped her again.
Jailing McArthur for life, Judge Tabor said the rapist was "utterly immoral and amoral"
He said: "Alexander McArthur decided to attack a woman using the exact technique he used 10 years earlier.
"She was the third woman he has attacked viciously, altering those ladies' lives forever.
"Despite being on life licence and having had years of therapy in prison … he forced himself into the house and subjected her to violence and humiliation.
"He tied her up and put plasters over her eyes and in that way felt he had control over the situation.
"He beat her up viciously, damaging her face and groin. He raped her. He frightened her so much she almost soiled herself.
"McArthur had the superficial air of a calm man but underneath lay a man who was calculating and violent. He showed no remorse at all for what he did and while he was in court I saw nothing but self pity and self absorbency.
"In my judgement he should not be released until age and infirmity mean he does not pose any risk."
Det Insp Mike Williams of Avon and Somerset police said: "We are pleased with the verdict and the sentence which means that a dangerous offender is now in prison for the foreseeable future and, on the judge's recommendation, until he no longer poses a threat to females.
"We are grateful to the victim who although traumatised, engaged with the police, providing significant evidence, which helped to secure a successful conviction.
"The police will continue to robustly investigate serious sexual assaults. In this case the offender was arrested within a matter of minutes of the offence and was charged the following day. He remained in custody from time of his charging through to his conviction.
"Fortunately these kind of incidents happen rarely but we would like the public to report them to the police immediately on the 999 emergency number.
"We are fully committed, with the probation service, to protecting the public and managing offenders in the community, ensuring the public feel safe and are safe."
