Footballer Nathan Ashton jailed for 16 years for r@ping two women in two separate s3x attacks

Former Premier League footballer, Nathan Ashton has been jailed after raping two women in separate s3x attacks.

The English footballer, 37, played for both Fulham and Charlton Athletic during his playing career. He has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of the two r@pes, which happened 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 how the first attack took place in 2015 when Ashton, who had represented his country as a youth team player, drove his victim into the countryside. She waited five years before coming forward to police as she feared that she would not be believed.

The second attack happened in February last year when the victim woke to find Ashton on top of her. The court heard that he carried on his attack as she begged repeatedly for him to stop.

In 2015 he was given a 15-year jail sentence after pleading guilty to a number of offences relating to a spree of armed robberies of bookmakers and shops across southeast England.

At the time detectives said that “the amount of evidence against Ashton gave him no other option but to plead guilty.” But the former England youth international was released early and he was on home leave during 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 began his career at Charlton before joining Fulham in 2007. He joined Crystal Palace on loan before joining Wycombe Wanderers and AFC Wimbledon. He ended his playing career in 2014 at Isthmian League Division One North club Tilbury.