Young man sentenced for rape of girls in Bristol
26-year-old Nathan Catherall from Croydon reportedly showed an “absolute lack of insight” into his offending
A man is beginning an 11 year prison sentence for the rape of two teenage girls in Bristol.
Nathan Catherall (26), from Croydon, met his victims on a dating app. Aged 18 and 19 at the time of the offences in 2020 and 2021, he went on to seriously sexually assault them.
He was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration at Bristol Crown Court last month and was sentenced at the same court yesterday (27 June).
Speaking in court, one of his victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: "Sometimes I feel numb thinking about what has happened. I managed to push down my feelings for so long so that I didn’t have to deal with the pain.
"I like to think of myself as a strong powerful woman but in that moment I lost those traits and I lost me.
"I was so scared."
She added: "I hope I can learn to forgive myself for being so hard on myself after you raped me and I hope I can treat my body better healing from this than I did dealing with it.
"I don’t want to cry, and I don’t want to hate myself, I want to love my body and I want to love me.”
Sentencing Catherall on Thursday, Recorder Kate Brunner KC said he had a “worrying attitude of entitlement” and an “absolute lack of insight” into his offending.
She also praised the victims for their "enormous strength and courage".
Investigating officer Ellen Rye said: "Rape myths and stereotypes should not form a part of our modern society and have no place in safe sexual relationships.
"No always means no and can be demonstrated in various ways.
"It doesn’t have to be verbal and whichever way a person communicates it, it is valid and should be respected by the other party.
"This was not respected by Nathan Catherall who chose to ignore each victims right to say no for his own gratification.
"The victims in this case showed the utmost courage, strength and bravery by sharing their experience with the court and I commend them for that."
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, recent or non recent, you can access a wide range of support via this link.