Burnley triple rapist jailed for 10 years

The town’s crown court was told how ex-soldier Alexander Fleming (51) targeted his first victim twice when he was on leave, about 30 years ago.

He then struck again when he was in his early 40s, forcing himself on the second innocent victim.

He was arrested after he tried to kill himself last July and confessed to a staff nurse when he was admitted to the mental health ward at the Royal Blackburn Hospital. She took legal advice, contacted the police and an investigation was launched.

Fleming, of no fixed address and who has been on remand, admitted three counts of rape. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register and was banned from working with children, both for life.

Miss Sarah Statham (prosecuting) said the first victim, who thought Fleming had been watching her, struggled with her attacker, begging him to stop, but he refused.

She would say what had happened to her had made her very angry, she felt dirty and scared and would still cry about it.

Miss Statham said the second victim told her colleagues what had happened to her on a works outing.

She had not reported the rape to police and tried to block the incident out of her head. The defendant was arrested last October and made no comment.

Mr Bob Elias (defending) said: “These are abhorrent offences which any court will look at with complete disgust and disdain. They should never have happened.”

Mr Elias said the defendant’s behaviour was something that would not cross the mind of any right-thinking man.

“The defendant realises he’s going to be in prison a very long time and he accepts that’s right and proper punishment for what he did. There is no excuse for what he did.

“He wishes to apologise for what he did. He wishes he hadn’t committed any of the offences. He can’t really explain why he did any of this.”

Sentencing, Judge Beverly Lunt told Fleming the only real mitigation was his guilty plea. She said the victims had had to live with “this dreadful, dreadful, burden” but hopefully now the healing could begin.

“You say, through your counsel and through your probation report, that you felt disgusted after the first incident. “Well, if you did, it didn’t last very long,” she said.

“You have attempted suicide. That might be a sign of guilt or remorse or simply despair because at last you have been caught.”