Man jailed for nine years for Romford sports club rape
Snaresbrook Crown Court Pic: John Stillwell/PA - Credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima
A lorry driver who repeatedly raped a woman before tearfully apologising to her has today been jailed for nine years.
Steven Murdoch, 36, spotted his victim walking in Crow Lane, Romford, in the early hours of September 20 after she became separated from friends on a night out.
Parking his car at Romford Rugby Club, he hit her over the head, threw her over his shoulder and ran to the club.
Snaresbrook Crown Court heard the woman, 30, desperately tried to dial 999 but he punched her in the stomach and snatched her phone.
He forced her to perform oral sex before raping her repeatedly on a concrete ramp.
Richard Germain, prosecuting, said: “Afterwards, he said he had done a terrible thing and the next time he would see her would be in court.”
The woman told him she wouldn’t tell anyone and pleaded with him to not kill her.
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“He said he didn’t want to kill her, just please her,” continued Mr Germain. “He began to weep and repeatedly said he was sorry.”
He handed back her phone and the woman left and called for help.
Murdoch was found in Scotland after police traced his number plate using CCTV. He was arrested at home in Bailieknowe Road, Dumfries.
Piers Mostyn, defending, said Murdoch had recently split from his partner and had been living in his lorry for three weeks suffering from depression.
Sentencing him, Judge Sheelagh Canavan said: “Your actions had the most devastating effect on your victim’s life. What you did was heinous, it was wicked, it was awful.”
Murdoch admitted two charges of rape and one count of assault by beating.
He was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register and barred from working with children and vulnerable adults for life.
