Double rapist has victim arrested by police after nightclub attack

A rapist who had to tear one of his victims away while he raped her has been jailed for 17 years. Sean Spooner, 33, of Castle Street, Cambridge, targeted two women he met at a nightclub in Cambridge in June 2022.

Spooner’s first victim was an 18-year-old woman. He forcefully kissed her without her consent before pushing her against the wall and grabbing her pants.

At sentencing on May 9, Judge Gray said the victim believed she had been penetrated. He described Spooner as “not caring” whether she wanted to engage in the sexual act or not.

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Spooner was kicked out of the nightclub after his first victim told staff about his behavior, but he remained standing outside the club. His second victim, a 20-year-old woman, was sitting on the stairs.

When she said she needed a restroom, Spooner told her he would find her a place. When she was finished and her underwear was still off, he began a longer attack.

Spooner penetrated his second victim with his penis, fingers and tongue. She cried and begged him to stop. When police and the victim’s friend arrived, Spooner had to be dragged away from the victim.

The rapist was on bail for an alleged sexual offense during the crimes. Although he was found not guilty of the offense for which he had been released on bail, Judge Gray concluded that the fact that he had committed the crimes while on bail was an aggravating factor. Spooner also has 11 previous convictions, including assault on a police officer.

On Thursday May 9, he was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court to 11 years in prison and six years on license for two counts of rape and two counts of assault. He was given a restraining order banning him from contact with his victims and was placed on the sex offenders’ register.

The victims’ personal statements were read out in court. The second victim’s statement from September 2023 says: “When I go out in the evening or am around men in general, I get panic attacks.”

“When a man stands in close proximity, it freezes me. This crime has triggered post-traumatic stress disorder in the past.

I didn’t go out for a few months after the incident and now avoid all contact with men. I feel like I’m going to have a hard time forming new relationships.”

A later statement in May 2024 described her as still being mentally impaired and continuing to have problems being with men.

Spooner’s first victim said in her September 2023 personal statement: “Sometimes when I’m out and about, I have silent panic attacks when I feel like I can’t breathe.” I’m not the same person I was before this happened.

“There are moments when I can’t fall asleep. When a man comes near me, I hold my breath and freeze.

“Some mornings I just didn’t want to get up and had to call work to tell them I couldn’t come in. I’m afraid of meeting him.”

In another statement in March 2024, she said: “I have some dark days that really depress me and I find it difficult to have a positive outlook on life at times.”

Mr Gray took into account a traumatic brain injury suffered by Spooner during his time in the army. However, he said: “The level of difficulty this has caused you is exaggerated.”

The doctor who examined Spooner believed the brain injury did not affect his ability to understand the victim’s lack of consent. Judge Gray also read out a comment from that doctor which said: “In my opinion, Mr Spooner is at high risk of further violent and sexual offending.”

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