Following trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Richard Weaver, 45, of no fixed address, was found guilty of rape as well as making threats to kill, false imprisonment, unlawful wounding and actual bodily harm. The victim and Weaver had been in a relationship and lived together but had decided to split up and were planning to move out of the house they shared in Newham. On 3 October 2019, shortly after the victim returned home from work, an argument began between the couple. Weaver followed her upstairs and began verbally abusing her before punching her in the face and stabbing her in the hand with a knife, causing a serious injury. He then forced her to have sex with him several times throughout the night before eventually saying she was allowed to leave to get medical help for her hand. However he quickly changed his mind and told her she had to stay within the property but she managed to escape and ran to a nearby street where she called police. Officers quickly arrived to pick her up and she was taken to a place of safety and provided with support from specialist officers. *Detective Constable Phil Fox, who led the investigation, said: *“Weaver had decided he did not want his ex-partner to leave him and carried out a horrific physical and sexual assault, an attack so frightening she believed she might not survive. “The victim in this case has shown tremendous bravery, not only in disclosing what happened to police but in coming to court and providing the evidence that brought Weaver to justice. “Male violence against women and girls is deplorable and we will do everything in our power to support those who come forward and report crimes of this nature.”
