A rapist who attacked and assaulted two women in front of their young children in Newton Heath has been jailed for life.
Thirty two year old Trevor Lawler of Tetlow Street, Manchester, pleaded guilty to rape, attempted rape, Section 18 assault, threats to kill, sexual assault by penetration and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square.Today, he was jailed for life, with a minimum tariff of 10 years.
Shortly after 4.40am on 10 July 2015, Lawler forced his way through the front door of an address in Newton Heath, and entered the bedroom of the 25-year-old victim while she was asleep in bed with her young son.
He undressed and got into bed with the victim before assaulting her and attempting to rape her, as well as threatening to slit her throat unless she told her son to stop crying.
The victim’s boyfriend then arrived back at the address and chased Lawler away.
Lawler struck again just hours later at around 7am, when he knocked on the door of an address in Failsworth and told the 34-year-old victim that he had been locked out of his home address.
She invited him inside and he followed her upstairs, where her young son was standing in the hallway.
Lawler tried to bear-hug the victim and pushed her against the wall, but she managed to free herself and grabbed her son as she escaped into her bedroom.
But Lawler followed her into her bedroom and punched her to the face while she was carrying her child, causing them both to fall backwards on to the bed.
She placed her child to one side to remove him from danger and Lawler continued to punch her in the face before sexually assaulting her.
He told the victim, ‘If you don’t stop screaming, I’ll kill you stone dead’ before raping her and then fleeing the address.
A man-hunt was subsequently launched by Greater Manchester Police, which resulted in Lawler being arrested later that day.
Detective Constable Steve Darragh said: “Lawler is without doubt one of the most vile and reprehensible human beings I have ever investigated.
“To attack not one, but two, women in their own homes and worse still in front of their young children, is utterly repulsive and worthy of this life sentence.
“Had the first victim’s boyfriend not returned when he did, I have no doubt that Lawler would have committed two rapes that morning.
“This sentence will not reverse the hugely damaging impact his attacks have had on his victims and their poor children, but hopefully it will save further women from becoming victims.
“He is an incredibly dangerous individual and our city is a safer place with him safely locked behind bars.”
