Serial rapist has sentence increased by nine years

A serial rapist from West Sussex has had his prison sentence increased by the Court of Appeal after claims it was initially “too lenient”.

Ian Elliott was jailed in February after admitting 43 offences, including 37 sex offences against four men, one of whom was raped 11 times.

Elliott, 71, was given 18 years in prison and a further five years on licence. His sentence has now been increased to 27 years in prison, to be followed by the five-year licence period.

Sarah Elliott KC, defence, said the rapist’s original sentence was “not unduly lenient on proper analysis of the criminality involved”.

Elliott, of North Heath near Pulborough, was the chairman of a local sports association and was involved in local social clubs.

Sussex Police said he had been a "trusted member of the community".

The Attorney General’s Office told the Court of Appeal that Elliot provided alcohol or drugs to his victims, who were aged between 16 and 28, before committing the crimes.

Three judges at the Court of Appeal were responsible for increasing Elliot’s sentence.

Giving their judgment, Lord Justice Edis said that the “persistence and nature” of Elliott’s “campaign of rape” meant a “significant increase in the sentence imposed by the judge is required”.

Elliott, who appeared via a video link from HMP Parkhurst, showed no emotion as his sentence was increased.

He pleaded guilty in November last year to 11 counts of rape, one attempted rape, eight sexual assaults, 17 counts of voyeurism, four drug charges, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The court heard that after Elliott was arrested, he asked a friend to remove a metal tin from his garage that contained media storage devices which contained footage related to two of his victims.

Lord Justice Edis, sitting with Mr Justice Murray and Judge Dennis Watson KC, said the attempt by Elliott to destroy the footage contributed to the sentence increase.

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