Thomas Nichols, a 28-year-old man from Accrington, Lancashire, was convicted of two counts of rape after deliberately targeting vulnerable women who were under the influence of alcohol. The offences occurred in the early hours following nights out in Hyndburn, demonstrating a pattern of predatory behaviour. Nichols was unanimously found guilty following a five-day trial at Burnley Crown Court, where the jury saw through his claims of consensual sex.
In the first incident, Nichols approached the victim and her friend in the street while they were smoking cigarettes. He asked for cigarette papers and joined them at the friend's house for drinks. After about 30 minutes, he suggested they go to a party and took them to his shed, which contained a camp bed and fish tanks, making the women uncomfortable. They decided to leave and went to the victim's house, allowing Nichols to join them. They purchased alcohol and continued drinking in the lounge. Nichols made inappropriate comments about the victim's body, but she clearly stated she had a boyfriend and no interest in him. Exhausted from hours of drinking, she fell asleep on the sofa. When her friend left, the victim asked her to take Nichols with her, but he stayed. She awoke to find him raping her; she screamed at him to stop, and he fled. DNA evidence from her underwear matched Nichols, who later claimed it was consensual.
The second rape occurred after Nichols met another victim outside a bar in Accrington in the early hours. She was affected by alcohol and initially refused his invitation to go back with him, citing her marriage. Against her better judgement, she accompanied him to his shed, where he returned in his boxer shorts, making her uncomfortable. She attempted to leave, but Nichols insisted, swore at her, and raped her despite her protests and attempts to push him away. He again claimed to police that the sex was consensual.
- Prosecutor Anya Horwood described how Nichols targeted the women, noting in the first case: 'She was making it abundantly plain that she had a boyfriend and had no sexual interest in Mr Nichols.'
- In the second case, Horwood stated: 'She was concerned but he was reassuring,' before the assault escalated.
At the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Jon Close characterised the offences as predatory, highlighting the severe impact on the victims. One victim was left 'completely broken' and 'barely functioning,' suffering flashbacks, nightmares, and clinical depression. The second experienced significant emotional trauma and anxiety. Defence barrister Andrew Scott acknowledged the lack of mitigation, noting Nichols continued to proclaim his innocence despite the jury's verdict and pre-sentence report.
Judge Sara Dodd sentenced Nichols to 13 years' imprisonment with an extended five years on licence, classifying him as a dangerous offender. She addressed him directly: 'In each case you asserted these women consented to having sex with you. The jury rightly in my judgement saw through your arrogance. [One victim] was unconscious and rendered senseless by the amount of alcohol she had taken. She was particularly vulnerable and was not able to fight you off or prevent you from raping her.' The judge emphasised his controlling and manipulative nature, stating: 'Your offences demonstrate that you could be controlling and manipulative... You have shown no insight into your offending and until you do you remain a danger to women.' The case was reported by Lancs Live on 12 December 2019, based on court proceedings at Burnley Crown Court.