Graveyard rapist is jailed

A man who raped an 80-year-old pensioner in a Shropshire graveyard was today put behind bars.

Haydyn Mellor attacked the woman as she visited Hengoed cemetery to tend a grave this year. The 21-year-old was jailed for an indeterminate period by Judge Robin Onions, who said there was a "high risk" he could offend again.

Mellor, of no fixed abode, had previously admitted two charges of rape, one of sexual touching and another of stealing the victim's purse after the attack in a cemetery in Hengoed, near Oswestry, on July 23.

Today Mellor was given an indeterminate jail sentence for the rape and sexual touching charges and told he should not be considered for parole until he had served at least three years of his sentence. He was also given a 12-month prison sentence to run concurrently for the purse theft.

The woman, who is now aged 81, now bathes and changes her clothes twice a day because of the effects of the attack, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

Mr Gareth Walters, prosecuting, said the victim was leaving the cemetery when she heard footsteps behind her.

"She felt someone grab her and she was pushed forward. She was very frightened and struggled but she was held down and had a hand placed across her mouth," he said.

He added: "She said Mellor told her 'I think you really enjoyed that' after the attack."

Mellor, who suffers from a form of autism, initially denied the incident to police. He told investigating officers he was in Welshpool buying cannabis at the time.

But he was informed his DNA had been found on the victim's body. Mr Walters told the court that since the attack the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had suffered physically and mentally.

Mr Michael Sherwood-Smith, for Mellor, said his client had shown remorse and felt physically sick by what he had done.

Judge Onions said the offences were of the greatest seriousness.

He told Mellor the attack "was humiliating and degrading" to the victim and praised the actions of members of the public who came to the aid of the victim.

By Brett Gibbons