'Brutal' Oswestry rapist must be psychologically assessed
A man who "brutally" raped a woman during the early hours of New Year's Day must be psychologically assessed before he can be sentenced, a judge has ruled.
Howard Long carried out the attack on the woman while she was walking along a road.
He was due to be sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday. But Judge Robin Onions adjourned sentencing until December 11 for a psychologist's report to be completed in order to determine Long's level of dangerousness and the level of harm he poses.
Long had initially denied attacking the woman but changed his plea the day before he was due to stand trial in July.
He pleaded guilty to one charge of rape and one count of attempted rape.
He also admitted two further charges of assault in relation to the attack.
The 32-year-old, of Melverley near Oswestry, carried out the attack near Morda.
Mr Andrew Wallace, prosecuting, said the victim described the attack as a "complete and utter violent shock as he overpowered her".
The court heard part of the victim impact statement where she said: "I wish he admitted he attacked me earlier, I could have moved forward earlier."
The court heard that Long was supposed to be sentenced in September but that was taken off the court list and he did not know why.
Judge Onions said the victim was being held back by delays in the case and that DNA evidence had always been "overwhelming".
When Long was initially interviewed on January 4, he denied the attack, said he had been in a fight with some men in a pub when asked about scratches on his shoulder, and offered no information in relation to his DNA that was found.
Judge Onions said: "She fled naked at 3.20am and was lucky to find a woman, who deserves commendation as she calmly gave her comfort and help."
Yesterday Judge Onions expressed concern at discovering that at the time of his arrest Long was wearing women's underwear and a dress, questioning whether he had a "deeper seated sexual problem".
Judge Onions said: "This was a brutal rape, as bad as I've come across and the fact he had this clothing on concerns me."
Judge Onions told Long that he "worried him" and warned him that he was going to receive a long custodial sentence.
The victim was walking away from Oswestry town centre on the B5069 in the direction of Welshpool when Long attacked her between 2.30am and 3.20am on New Year's Day.
A section of the B5069 road was closed while police carried out an investigation.
Officers sealed off a section of road from the Morda crossroads to the junction with the A483 on New Year's Day and for part of January 2.
