Former Premier League footballer Nathan Ashton, 37, who raped two women in separate attacks, including one in the back seat of his car, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison

A former Premier League footballer was sentenced to 16 years in prison today after a jury found him guilty of raping two women, the incidents occurring eight years apart.

Nathan Ashton, 37, who played for Fulham FC in the Premier League, drove his first victim from Reading in Berkshire to the countryside in 2015, ordered her to get into the back seat of his car and raped her.

Afterwards, the former footballer said coldly: “You will survive.”

According to Reading Crown Court, the woman waited years before reporting the rape because she blamed herself.

The disgraced 37-year-old sportsman, who played for Wycombe Wanderers between 2008 and 2010 and is a former England youth international, attacked another woman in 2023.

During the trial, the court heard that the first victim did not report the incident to the police for five years, but visited a sexual health clinic the day after the rape and revealed what had happened.

Prosecutor Ahmed Hossain said during the trial: “She had told people what had happened at the time, but she did not contact the police in 2015 because she blamed herself and was afraid that she would not be believed.”

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The second rape occurred in February 2023. The victim said she went to sleep in a friend’s bed and woke up to find Ashton forcing himself on her.

The defendant ignored her repeated requests to stop, and the woman reported the attack to the police shortly thereafter.

Born in Beckton, London, Ashton began his football career in the youth team of Charlton Athletics between 2005 and 2006.

He signed for Fulham in August 2007 and made his debut in the 3–1 win against Reading in November 2007.

He then played for Crystal Palace before moving to Wycombe Wanderers for two years in July 2008.

Today, one of the victims read his own personal victim impact statement on the witness stand in the courtroom.

She said: “The effects of what happened to me will stay with me forever. Conviction cannot take it away, nothing can.”

“The only thing that has kept me alive during this ordeal and the only reason I am here is my children.”

She later added: “Because of what he did to me, I have been afraid of men ever since – and always will be.”

“I feel disgust and hatred for him. I think he is a disgusting person.”

The victim spoke via video link with Ashton, who emerged from custody at HMP Bullingdon.

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She bravely told him that he had not hit her, that she would never be hit, and that one day she would be free.

The second victim also read her victim impact statement from the witness stand, telling the judge that she now suffers from panic attacks and sleep apnea, describing this as a “far-reaching and devastating impact” on her life.

Defense attorney Catherine Purnell: “Who could not be touched by the personal statements of the victims, read out in person? Who could not be touched by these words?”

However, Ms Purnell stressed that it was her responsibility to speak on Ashton’s behalf, and to do so in the most “diplomatic” terms possible.

Ms Purnell added: “As Your Honour can see from his letter, he is sorry for the pain he has caused.”

However, Judge Mathew Turner said: “I regret to say that I consider his remorse in this case to be limited.”

In his closing remarks, Judge Ashton said: “You used your physical strength to do what you wanted, without empathy or compassion for your victims.”

“You are manipulative and focused on yourself and your own sexual satisfaction.”

Ashton was sentenced to 16 years in prison for two counts of rape.

A 16-year restraining order was imposed on both victims and he will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.