Nathan Ashton, a former Premier League footballer has been slammed with a 16-year jail term for rape after he was found guilty of forcefully having sex with two women on separate occasions.
The rape attacks are understood to have an 8-year disparity, with Ashton said to have driven his first victim out of Reading, Berkshire into countryside where he order her into the back seat of his car and raped her in 2015.
Subsequently, reports indicate that Nathan Ashton told the victim that she would “live”, with the word believed to have been mentally damaging due to the circumstances.
Reading Crown Court heard that the women had to wait for several years before reporting the inhumane action of the Englishman.
When Did Nathan Ashton, The Ex-Premier League Footballer Rape Another Woman?
The convicted athlete, who represented England at youth level proceeded to rape another woman in 2023.
During the trial, the court heard that although the first victim did not report the matter to police for five years, she went to a sexual health clinic a day after the rape, where she shared what had occured.
Prosecutor Ahmed Hossain, speaking during the trial, said: “She had told people at the time what had happened but she didn’t contact the police in 2015, as she blamed herself and she was afraid of not being believed.”
Ashton raped another woman in February 2023 when she had gone to sleep in a friend’s bed.
The victim made it known that she woke up to find Nathan Ashton forcing himself on her. The defendant didn’t listen to her constant demands that he stop and the woman went forward to report the attack to police shortly after it happened.
Victims Share Their Profound Statement Over The Rape By Nathan Ashton, The Former Premier League Footballer
On July 16, 2024, one of the victims read her personal statement from the witness stand at the Reading Crown Court.
She said: “The impact of what happened to me will be with me forever – the conviction does not free me of that, nothing can.
“The one thing that has kept me going throughout my ordeal and my one and only reason for being here, is my children.”
Additionally, the victim shared that she had become scared of men due to the rape incident and she described Nathan Ashton as a “vile human being”
The victim made this statements to Ashton who appeared from custody at HMP Bullingdon via a video link.
The woman made it known that he had nor beaten her and stressed that she would never be beaten, before expressing that she will be free one day.
Ashton’s second victim also delivered her victim impact statement from the stand, informing the judge she now battles panic attacks and sleep apnea.
Barrister Catherine Purnell Touched By The Victims’ Statements Over The Rape Incident
Defence barrister Catherine Purnell was also touched by those comments and she said: “Who could fail to be moved by those victim personal statements read out in person? Who could fail to be moved by those words?“
However, she didn’t come to make a case for Nathan Ashton, as she shared that it was responsibility to speak on behalf of Ashton, in the most ‘“diplomatic” manner.
Barrister Purnell added: “As Your Honour can see from his letter, he is sorry for the pain that he has caused.”
Meanwhile, Judge Matthew Turner wasn’t buying any of those statements made by defence barrister Catherine Purnell.
Judge Matthew said: “His remorse, I am afraid to say, I treat as limited in this case.
“You used your physical strength to do what you wanted, with no empathy or compassion for your victims.
“You are manipulative and focused on yourself and your own sexual satisfaction.”
Ashton Nathan was then hammered with a 16-year jail term for two counts of rape alongside a restraining order within those years in relation to the two victims.
Nathan’s name has also been included on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Who Is Nathan Ashton?
Nathan Ashton was born in Plaistow, London, on January 30, 1987 and he is 37-years-old. He played primarily as a left back, but he can also function as a left winger and as a central midfielder.
Ashton played in the Premier League with Fulham, making his debut for the club in a 3-1 win over Reading in August 2007.
Nathan Ashton played for several clubs in his career, including; Crystal Palace, Millwall, Charlton Athletic, and Wycombe Wanderers.
Ashton made just 16 club appearances throughout his career, scoring no goal and providing 2 assists in all competitions.
