'Dangerous predator' who faked personality disorder to rape woman jailed
A man from Epsom has been jailed for eight years after he claimed to have a severe mental health condition in order to manipulate and sexually assault a young woman.
25 year old Joseph Head of Chase Road old his victim he had a multiple personality disorder and said one of his personalities would become violent if she wasn't intimate with him.
He was found guilty of three counts of rape, and one count of sexual assault by penetration after a 3-week trial. He will also be on the sex offenders register for life.
Surrey Police say the investigation began after the survivor came forward and told officers that over a period of three months, Head had gone to extreme lengths to manipulate her into believing that he had multiple personalities and that if she refused to have sex with him, either him or her would come to serious physical harm.
Head told her that ‘J’, one of his personalities, was very violent and that if she did not do exactly what he wanted, 'J' would appear.
On one occasion he convinced the survivor that the different personalities had forced him to take an overdose; however expert toxicology evidence proved that this was categorically false.
Head also had a fascination with the film ‘Split’, in which the titular character had dissociative identity disorder and committed violent crimes.
When searching his mobile phone, officers found ‘notes’ that outlined each of his 'multiple personalities', their names and the characteristics of each.
Head’s psychiatric report concluded that he did not in fact have dissociative identity disorder.
Investigating officer Andy Price said; “Head is a dangerous predator who manipulated and frightened this young woman into having sex with him without her true consent.
“The unique circumstances of this case posed a challenge to the team but with the unwavering support from the survivor, a thorough investigation and dedication by the team to bring Head to justice, a conviction was secured.
“I would like to acknowledge the bravery of the survivor was in coming forward to us, supporting the investigation and helping keep other women safe. Although the trauma of what happened cannot be erased, I hope this outcome can give at least some measure of closure.”