Harlow: Rapist sentenced to nine years in prison

A rapist has been sentenced to nine years in prison after sexually assaulting a woman in Harlow.

Dean Tombs, 45, of Lower Meadow in Harlow, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday 7 October after he raped the victim in January 2024.

On the evening of 13 January she clearly and repeatedly told Tombs she did not want to have sex with him, which he ignored before he assaulted her and left her with several injuries to her face and hands.

The victim called us after Tombs left, quickly providing an account and evidence to officers.

He was quickly arrested at his own address on suspicion of rape, causing actual bodily harm and non-fatal strangulation.

He was charged on 14 January 2024 with rape, sexual assault by penetration, causing actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

After a four-day trial, a jury found Tombs guilty of rape, sexual assault by penetration and ABH. He was found not guilty of intentional strangulation.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison for rape, two years for sexual assault by penetration, and nine months for ABH, all to run concurrently. He is also subject to an indefinite restraining order.

In her victim personal statement, the woman in this case said:

“On the night of the incident I was terrified he was going to kill me. Before this trial I dreaded the thought of him being bailed or released.
“Since this has happened I go days on end without leaving the house and I don’t feel comfortable around men anymore.
“Day-to-day life is just not the same anymore – I feel like I am constantly in a state of alert that is exhausting.”

Speaking after Tombs was sentenced, Detective Jake Bond said:

“The victim in this case did something incredibly brave in the wake of Tombs’ crimes.
“Her evidence and testimony was crucial to this case, along with a huge amount of work from the Harlow Local Policing Team and the Adult Sexual Abuse Investigation Team.
“Tombs was a dangerous and controlling individual whose actions may have a life-long effect on his victim – this sentence has now had a very real impact on the next nine years of his life and well beyond.
“Violence against women and girls in Essex won’t be tolerated and I hope this case shows other victims if they speak to our officers, they will be listened to and they will be supported.”

Synergy Essex offers independent and specialised services for individuals who have experienced rape or sexual abuse in Essex.

Synergy Essex is a partnership of three services; Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse (CARA), SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service, and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis).

The services provided by Synergy Essex are independent of the police. This ensures individuals can seek help whether they choose to report the incident or not. This could be in relation to something that happened recently or in the past.

Survivors and victims can access support by reaching out on their own or through a referral from someone they trust. This could be a family member, friend, or professional.

At Synergy Essex, people of all ages can benefit from specialised emotional support. This includes counselling and advocacy.

For those pursuing legal action, they offer the help of an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA). The advisers can guide and support them through the criminal justice process.

To learn more about the services available, please visit the Synergy Essex website.

At Essex Police we put victims at the heart of everything we do. The Victims’ Code explains the rights that everyone can expect to receive as a victim of crime, and helps us define what we must do for all victims from their initial contact with our force until the conclusion of their case.

Find out more about the code and to understand the rights of a victim of crime, on our support for victims and witnesses of crime page.

To report a crime, please use our digital 101 service. In an emergency call 999.