'Sadistic and controlling' rapist jailed

A ‘sadistic and controlling’ rapist threatened a woman with a gun before subjecting her to a prolonged and degrading sexual assault.

Ryan Beard, aged 26, had been following the woman and tracking her movements via a device he’d placed in her car.

He’s also installed a spywear app on her mobile phone in the weeks and months leading up to the attack on the night of 11 May 2023, when he lured her to his flat by posing as someone else.

He then placed an imitation gun to the woman’s head and into her mouth before filming himself raping her.

Beard was arrested in July when his victim came forward to tell the police what had happened.

He denied all the allegations against him and even claimed his victim was the one harassing him.

He answered “no comment” in a later police interview when he was shown the video of the rape and other digital exhibits detectives had recovered from his phone.

After a trial in July, Beard, formerly of Tuxford, was found guilty of two counts of rape, possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, intentional strangulation, assault and stalking involving fear of violence.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday we was given an extended 15 year prison sentence after being deemed a dangerous offender.

He was also added to the sex offenders register for life and handed a restraining order forbidding any future contact with his victim.

Detective Constable Henry Foster said:

“Beard is a sadistic and controlling rapist who represents a clear danger to women.

“The victim in this case was subjected to a truly horrendous ordeal that I am sure will live with her for the rest of her life.

“Shamefully, Beard attempted throughout the early stages of our investigations to portray himself as a victim, but he couldn’t hide from the damning cyber evidence we were able to uncover – including the video of his sickening attack.

“I am pleased he has now been jailed and hope this case serves as an inspiration to other victims that we will do whatever we need to do to bring their abusers to justice."