Rapist is jailed over ‘night of terror’

Nicholas Totty attacked four women in one night in what a senior detective described as the most horrific case of its kind she had dealt with in 20 years.

The 26-year-old, of Newman Road, Rotherham, was sentenced yesterday after admitting four counts of rape, wounding with intent, assault with intent to commit a sexual offence and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

He began his crime spree at 9.15pm on September 27 when he tried to attack a 24-year-old woman who was walking her dog in Herringthorpe Valley Road, in Rotherham.

About two hours later he targeted a 27-year-old woman in the Moorgate area by hitting her over the head with a torch before sexually assaulting her.

He then dragged the victim along the street, at which point a member of the public intervened and Totty, who worked as a doorman in the area, ran off.

At about 1am he forced his way into a nearby home and seriously assaulted a 45-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl. He then went on to repeatedly rape the teenager before fleeing the property.

Totty appeared yesterday at Sheffield Crown Court, where he was sentenced to life and ordered to serve a minimum of 10 years.

Detective Superintendent Lisa Ray of South Yorkshire Police, who led the investigation, said: “This was the most grotesque and hideous of crimes. It is difficult to find the words to truly describe the gravity of Totty’s actions and the life-changing impact it will have had on all the victims he attacked during that night of terror.

“The victims in the case have showed incredibly bravery and dignity throughout the course of the investigation and subsequent court proceedings. I hope the fact that Totty is now off the streets and facing life in jail will help give them some closure.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the public who intervened on the night, preventing further offences, and who came forward with information that helped us to identify Totty.”

Sentencing Totty, Mr Justice Henry Globe said: “Whether or not you can be released after the term has been served will be a matter entirely for the parole board. They will not do so unless satisfied you are not a risk to the public and you are ready for release back into society.”

Totty was arrested after police released a description of him to the media and received a number of calls from the public naming him as the suspect. Once he was in custody forensic tests were done to compare his DNA with that found at the scene.

Ms Ray said: “The two victims that had their houses broken into, they can’t now return to their family home, it was that traumatic. Even when they move house they have still got to live with it forever. It is fair to say it will have a life-changing effect.

“I can only ever think of one other case that comes anywhere near close to this, this is the most horrific sexual-related attack I have dealt with in 20 years.

“In other cases you get one offence, this was repeated attacks on different women, this makes it worse than any other case.”