Nathan Ashton, a former Premier League footballer, has been imprisoned for raping two women in separate s3x attacks.
Throughout his playing career, the 37-year-old English footballer represented Fulham and Charlton Athletic. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being found guilty of two rapes that occurred eight years apart.
In powerful victim impact statements, one of Ashton’s victims told how she will never be free from the “impact” of the attack. She also stated: “Because of what he chose to do to me, I have feared men ever since – and always will. The feelings I hold for him are disgust and hatred. I think he is a vile human being.” The second woman told how she now suffers from panic attacks.
Reading Crown Court heard that the first attack occurred in 2015, when Ashton, who had represented his country in the youth squad, drove his victim into the countryside.
She waited five years before coming forward to authorities because she was afraid she wouldn’t be believed.
The woman awoke to discover Ashton on top of her in February of last year, marking the second attack. The court heard that he continued his attack despite her repeated requests for him to cease.
After pleading guilty to a series of armed robberies of bookies and shops around southeast England, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2015.
Detectives stated at the time that “the amount of evidence against Ashton gave him no other option but to plead guilty.” However, the former England youth international was released early, and he was on home leave for the second attack.
At a sentencing hearing for the rapes, Judge Mathew Turner said: “You used your physical strength to do what you wanted, with no empathy or compassion for your victims. You are manipulative and focused on yourself and your own sexual satisfaction.”
Ashton started his career at Charlton before joining Fulham in 2007. He initially joined Crystal Palace on loan before moving on to Wycombe Wanderers and AFC Wimbledon. He finished his playing career in 2014 with Tilbury of the Isthmian League Division One North.
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