Omagh man admits ‘vicious’ sex attack in which victim was beaten

AN Omagh man has admitted carrying out a prolonged and vicious attack on a female who was raped, beaten, strangled, drugged and prevented escaping from his home.

While fearful of calling police in case the accused discovered what she’d done, the victim managed to audio record the attack lasting two hours and 20 minutes on her phone – something which helped secure convictions at Dungannon Crown Court.

Christopher Rice (39), from Lammy Drive, Omagh but remanded in custody since his arrest, pleaded guilty to 17 charges comprising attempted rape and sexual assaults, unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm, false imprisonment, threats to kill, multiple counts of causing actual bodily harm and attempting to possess an extreme pornographic image.

Offending occurred on April 10 2023. A further six counts were left on the court books.

Defence counsel said a number of reports are to be sought including a psychiatric assessment and accepted these could take some time to prepare however added, “Without putting it too fine a point on it, I don’t think the defendant is going anywhere for the foreseeable future.”

Judge Brian Sherrard agreed and prosecution counsel advised Victim Impact Statements will also be sought.

Rice was remanded in continuing custody with sentencing set to take place on September 10.

He first appeared in court just over a year ago where it was disclosed the victim’s father contacted police reporting she was in hospital receiving treatment for three broken ribs, a punctured lung, two black eyes and substantial bruising to her face and body.

She had been socialising with Rice and others when an argument broke out.

He demanded she take off her clothes and when she refused, slapped and punched her numerous times, before pulling off her trousers and ripping her bra.

She was ordered to lie down then thrown on the floor and sexually assaulted.

When she tried to get away, Rice warned, “This would be her last day.”

She again tried to escape but was pushed onto a sofa, punched repeatedly and another sexual assault allegedly occurred.

There are also instances of Rice allegedly trying to film the victim having instructed her to lie down while he sexually assaulted her, stating, “I’m not going to show your face.”

He then tied a t-shirt around neck until she fell unconscious.

When she came round, Rice was asleep and she phoned her father who took her straight to hospital.

She later attended with police and provided her phone recording of the incident, which contained two hours 20 minutes of, “a vicious assault with around 100 punches and slaps heard in graphic detail”, while the victim screamed and begged Rice to stop.

The defendant was arrested and denied any offences occurred, instead contending the victim had argued with a female and he restrained her.

He insisted any injuries were because “she likes to be choked during sex”.

Although he refused to listen to the complete recording, he heard sections, but deemed these, as “exaggerated – it wasn’t as bad as it sounded”.

During an unsuccessful bail application, the prosecution said, “This was unpredictable, volatile, erratic behaviour involving a sustained course of violence even when the victim begged him to stop. She remains in fear for her life.”