A VILE rapist lured a woman back to his home on the promise of a "cuddle" only to restrain and attack her for more than three hours.

Predator Malcolm Mason was just nine days out of jail when he carried out the "gratuitous" attack on the vulnerable woman in Southend.

He told her all he wanted was "a cuddle" and led her back to his home, where he turned from a friendly person into a "monster" once the door was closed.

Mason drew a pair of scissors from his jacket and held it to the woman's throat, saying "we can do this the easy way or the hard way" before restraining her.

The victim bravely kicked Mason and managed to break free, but he grabbed her and punched her repeatedly before she could escape.

Mason restrained the woman again and then subjected her to a horrific and sustained attack where he raped and sexually assaulted her.

Basildon Crown Court heard that the 50-year-old of Wimbourne Road, Southend, went out on the night of January 12, 2020 with the intent to lure a victim back to his home.

The woman was left with injuries to her face include a black eye, a bloody nose, and had lost three teeth.

Mason then made her leave the property, forcing her to put her coat over her head so she could not see where she was.

CCTV also caught Mason carrying bed sheets which he then disposed of, and have never been recovered.

The victim met a friend and police were called.

Echo:

Mason denied all counts but was convicted by a jury at trial.

Recorder David Mayall said Mason's horrific offences of rape, sexual assault and causing actual bodily harm were aggravated by him planning the attack, and that the victim, who was a sex worker at the time, was extremely vulnerable.

He said: "You searched for a woman in the red light district of Southend, planning to lure her back to your home and commit these offences.

"You had a pair of scissors and planned to use them if necessary. You took them from your pocket.

"I am satisfied there was a degree of planning and it was significant."

Mason appeared via video link from Chelmsford prison, as he refused to attend court due to "swollen feet".

Mitigating, Shauna Ritchie said Mason still did not accept his crimes but knew he would now face a long prison term.

Recorder Mayall said Mason had a history of previous offences, including an attempted robbery when he tried to take a woman's bag at Southend Hospital, which he had only been released from prison for nine days prior to the attack.

Recorder Mayall told the court that the probation service had found that Mason poses "a high risk" to adult women, including any future partners and members of the public.

The recorder said that he "completely agreed" with the report.

He jailed Mason for 17 years with an extended licence period of five years.