Gloucestershire man jailed for sexual attacks on 5 women

A Gloucester man who controlled, raped and violently assaulted several women has been given an extended sentence of 25 years.

Darren Sysum, aged 30, left the victims fearing for their lives after he subjected them to unimaginable harm and suffering.

He threatened the vulnerable women, violently assaulted them and controlled them.

Sysum would choose what they could wear, how long they could leave home for and repeatedly looked at their phones.

Prosecutor David Maunder also described a "campaign of rape" by Sysum, previously of Matson Avenue, Matson.

In court Mr Maunder detailed an assault where one of the victims was knocked unconscious and an imprint was left on her face from when she had been struck by Sysum.

He also filmed intimate sexual videos with her, and distributed them on social media without her consent.

At Gloucester Crown Court today, Friday 18 February, victim impact statements from four of the victims were read.

One of the victims described what she went through as "rape in the most depraved and hateful form".

She added: "He is a violent, sick person capable of worming his way into people’s lives and hurting them in the most personal way possible."

She also said that Sysum was “incapable of showing respect to women”.

In another statement a victim described her relationship with Sysum as a "nightmare".

She described how she was convinced she was going to die when Sysum raped her, and how flashbacks to the memory of it still paralyse her to this day.

In a third statement the victim said how she had tried to take her own life following the trauma she suffered.

She said how being raped by Sysum will haunt her for the rest of her life.

The woman added: "He is a dangerous, calculating abuser and I want the whole world to know it."

In a fourth statement a woman described time spent with Sysum as a traumatic experience and that she would cry herself to sleep every night.

She added: "Nobody should have to live in fear the way he made me. I’d never been hit like that before, I can still see the hatred in his eyes when he hit me."

All four of the victims said in their statements how they were either convinced they could have died at his hands or feared for their lives.

Some of them fled to refuges out of county as a consequence of his violence.

Last year Sysum faced a trial and was found guilty of five counts of rape, one count of assault and one count of sexual assault by penetration.

Afterwards he pleaded guilty to one count of revenge porn, controlling and coercive behaviour and four breaches of a restraining order.

These offences relate to five separate women, and counts relating to two other women will lie on file.

Speaking in mitigation Sysum's defence barrister, Mr Kannan Siva, explained how Sysum had a history of distress and cruelty at the hands of others, and that this may explain his attitudes towards women and relationships.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC deemed that Sysum was dangerous and showed a lack of remorse for his behaviour.

Sysum was given a concurrent sentence for the offences of 20 years in custody, to serve at least two-thirds before he will be eligible for parole.

He was also given an extended five years on licence.

Restraining orders protecting the victims and their families were also granted in court.

Following the sentence Judge Lawrie thanked the victims present in court for their courage in giving evidence during a four-week trial.

He also said that he admired the professionalism of the investigating officers and that they had made women safer. He added they will receive a Judge’s Commendation.

After the hearing Detective Inspector Paula Hannaford, from the Constabulary's CID said: "There are not enough words to describe just what these remarkable women have been through - it’s unimaginable harm that they were subjected to on several occasions.

"I hope that now Sysum is behind bars for a lengthy period of time, that this gives them some reassurance that they don’t have to look over their shoulder in the future, worried that he could try and manipulate his way back into their lives.

"Throughout our entire investigation they have shown immense strength and courage. I cannot thank them enough for working with us and giving evidence so that we could ensure Sysum remains behind bars for a number of years, and is unable to cause harm to any more women.

"Some of the victims have said that during their time with Sysum there was not a single day there wasn't some form of abuse. He was controlling and manipulative, and he made them feel that this behaviour was normal - but no-one should be subjected to what they were forced to.

"Talking to someone after suffering at the hands of an abuser like him is not easy, but please reach out to someone and do not suffer in silence.

"You may not want to speak to police at first, but there are other local agencies available such as Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Centre (GRASAC) which can provide support and give advice until you feel ready to contact us.

"This case has been very complex and emotional for all involved and I am proud of the dedication of the CID team.

"In particular I want to highlight the officer in the case, DC Allun Johnson, who has demonstrated extreme professional and tenacity to ensure Sysum was brought to justice, and also family liaison officer DC Tom Newrick, who has been a huge support for the victims and team.

"I would also like to thank the witnesses who supported the prosecution's case and also provided support to the women throughout the court process, as well as the sexual offences and domestic violence advocates who supported them too."

Vicky Gleave, Head of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit in CPS South West, said: "The CPS welcomes today's sentence.

"I would like to thank and commend the victims in this case for their courage in coming forward and supporting this prosecution. The evidence they provided was essential in securing Sysum's conviction and he now faces many years in prison for his crimes.

"The CPS and Gloucestershire Constabulary worked closely together from the outset of this case. This cooperation from the early stages of investigations enables us to build the strongest possible rape prosecutions and bring offenders to justice whenever the legal test is met.

"We want every victim of rape and sexual assault to have the confidence to seek help and come forward to report abuse, in the knowledge that support is available and that the police and CPS are committed to securing justice."