Rapist estate agent is jailed for six years

Friday 16th March 2012

An estate agent found guilty of raping a teenager has been jailed for six years. He was caught when his victim's mobile phone accidentally went off.

Matthew Duggan, 20, of Sunbury, Surrey, was found guilty of one count of rape and one of attempted rape at a trial at Guildford Crown Court. He received a six-year sentence for each count, to run concurrently.

He will also be placed indefinitely on the sex offenders’ register.

Duggan and friends had been out drinking in Sunbury and Chertsey, Surrey, last July when he met the 19-year-old victim.

Prosecuting, Ruby Selva told the court at Duggan’s sentencing that the case against him had centred around a harrowing 999 recording, after the teenager’s mobile phone somehow connected to the emergency services during the attack.

Ms Selva told the court that when Duggan was arrested and taken to a police station, he said he should be put in a ‘more luxurious cell’ because he was ‘better than everyone else’.

Jon Swain, defending, said this was a flippant remark and not a true reflection of his client’s character. He said Duggan, who has no previous convictions, had referred himself to the mental health team in prison to find out why he had behaved as he did.

Mr Swain said: “His family support him and will do so on his release. He recognises he has to be positive in his attitude and approach. He is sorry for what happened.”

Recorder Jeremy Carter-Manning told Duggan that the victim would have to live with what he did for a long time in her mind.

“Your behaviour on the evening was absolutely appalling and very, very serious indeed,” the judge said.