Sick pervert who raped a grieving mum twice as she visited the grave of her six-year-old son is jailed for life
He knocked her out by hitting her at least four times in the head before raping her
A MAN who raped a mourning mother twice as she visited her six-year-old son's grave on the 20th anniversary of his death has been jailed for life.
Reading Crown Court heard Christopher Rode said "I will kill you" as he forced his victim to the ground and covered her mouth to stop her screaming.
He had pounced on her as she placed flowers on her son's grave and committed the vile acts.
The court heard the victim begged Rode for mercy as she told him it was the anniversary of her son's death.
He ignored her and after he had raped her twice left her in a pool of blood on the ground of the cemetery.
He had knocked the 56-year-old out cold by hitting her at least four times in the head with a small brass and ceramic bear statue he had stolen from a grave, before ripping off her clothes and raping her.
Judge John Reddihough heard the victim had finished tidying the grave of her boy and was about to walk back to her car when she heard a rustle coming from a bush.
She turned to see Rode running at her but was unable to react before he hit her repeatedly.
Prosecuting, Michael Roques told Reading Crown Court: "She heard a rustling sound coming from a nearby hedge and turned to look.
"The individual struck her four times to the face using some sort of weapon.
"She described regaining consciousness lying on her front, pinned between the car itself and the kerb and bleeding from her face onto the roadway.
"She attempted to scream for help but a gloved hand was covering her mouth. She tried to clamp her legs together in order to prevent her lower garments being further removed."
The judge heard however that the victim was unable to fend off 30-year-old Rode, who anally raped her twice.
The prosecutor continued: "She described struggling over the course of the attack and telling her attacker that it was the anniversary of her son's death and she was tidying her son's grave.
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"This resulted in the defendant leaning very close to her ear and saying 'I will kill you'. She described his voice as very, very angry.
"After some minutes she managed to get herself into her car.
"In the footwell of the driver door was a ceramic and brass bear statue. This it seems was the weapon with which she had been struck, it having been removed from part of a grave decoration within the cemetery."
The court heard Rode went to the victim's car and took some wet wipes. He left the weapon he had used to beat her with in the footwell.
His victim managed to flag down a passing car and she was taken to hospital.
Rode, 30, of Granville Avenue, Slough, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and one count of grievous bodily harm last month, after he attacked his victim in a memorial garden in May.
Judge Reddihough also heard that Rode was a notorious woman beater who had numerous convictions having beaten some of his former partners, including one who was pregnant.
Detectives searched the cemetery after the attack and found Rode. He was arrested on the scene and taken to a nearby station to be quizzed.
He was arrested three days after the attack and charged on May 14.
When Rode admitted his guilt Detective Inspector Stuart Brangwin, from Force CID, said: "This was an horrific attack on a woman who at the time was paying her respects to a loved one in the public crematorium.
"The victim has been supported by specially trained officers during the investigation and I would like to acknowledge her courage throughout this extremely traumatic time.
“I am pleased that Rode has admitted responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty to the offences.
“Crimes of this nature are fortunately very rare, and as this conviction demonstrates, Thames Valley Police will find those responsible and bring them to justice.
“My thoughts are with the victim and I hope that knowing Rode is behind bars will help her to move forward with her life.”
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