Rapist who kidnapped woman at gunpoint is jailed for 12 and a half years

24-year-old’s victim tells court she will ‘forever be haunted’ by his actions

This report contains information some readers will find upsetting.

A Port Erin man who kidnapped a woman at gunpoint before violently raping her has been jailed for 12-and-a-half-years.

At Douglas Courthouse today Tobias Wood, formerly of Ballamaddrell, was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

The 24-year-old lay in wait for his victim, who was known to him but who can't be identified for legal reasons, just after 9pm on 7 November 2020.

The woman, who was 21, had been at work in Port Erin – when she returned to her car, and tried to put on her seatbelt, she realised she was not alone.

Wood was sitting on the backseat holding a gun to her neck. He told her: “Shut up and drive,” and instructed her to move away from the area and towards his home.

Finding the property locked, he then directed her towards Rushen Football Club – marching her over the pitch, towards the railway track, at gunpoint.

Telling her he’d have ‘no problem killing her’ he pushed her to the floor and proceeded to rape her; the court heard he tried to record what he was doing on his mobile phone.

Wood told the victim she was ‘disgusting’ and said he would kill her if she told anyone about what had happened; she managed to leave the scene and reported what he had done to police.

Officers arrested him and a search of his home revealed clothing and a phone hidden behind a bath panel – days later they uncovered a black weapon in the undergrowth near the football pitch.

The court heard the firearm was a ‘BB’ gun with the prosecutor explaining: “Unless you are up close, it looks no different to a real firearm.”

Wood maintained his innocence over the course of almost two years and trial dates were set, and vacated, three times; he only admitted his guilt in August this year on the day the third trial was due to start.

"Every day I felt less and less human as the criminal investigation went on." - Victim

In a victim impact statement, read to the court, the woman described herself as ‘happy’ on 6 November 2020 – just a day later she told the court: “Everything changed.”

Revealing she would ‘forever be haunted’ by Wood’s actions she said she suffered with flashbacks and nightmares.

“I don’t think these will ever stop,” she added: “From the day of the attack Toby (Tobias) has had control of my life ever since.”

Her mother, who also provided a victim impact statement, detailed how her daughter had become ‘a frightened, withdrawn, little girl’ adding: “My daughter’s physical and emotional scars will last forever.”

Wood’s advocate, Laurence Vaughan-Williams, said his client had come from a ‘good home’ and was not an ‘unintelligent man’.

Highlighting his ‘excellent school record’ he said Wood was the ‘first person of colour’ to be appointed as a house captain at Castle Rushen High School and was a high achiever in rugby and athletics.

Describing Wood’s offending as ‘one evening’s madness’ the advocate told the court Wood had drunk alcohol and consumed cocaine and cannabis.

“Why was he acting out of character? Because he’d consumed those substances which made him,” Mr Vaughan-Williams said.

Addressing remorse he added: “He now has a real appreciation of the harm he has done to the victim,” adding: “He is disgusted with himself.”

“There’s only one liar in this courtroom and that is you. You are a liar.” - Deemster Graeme Cook

Sentencing Wood to immediate custody Deemster Graeme Cook said his actions amounted to ‘appalling offending’ adding the woman must have been ‘absolutely terrified’.

Addressing the fact she had to relive her experience three times, as part of the court process, he added: “I’m sure that each time must have been harrowing for her.”

Deemster Cook also imposed a five-year extended licence and made Wood the subject of an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

One of the conditions is that Wood must not form any relationships with women without notifying the relevant authorities.

“I do not accept you have any remorse – the only remorse you have is that you were found out,” the deemster added. 

Wood’s mother who was watching from the public gallery, as her son was led away from the dock, shouted: “My son is there because he’s black. You are all against my son because he is black.”

Manx Radio has requested a picture of Tobias Wood from the Isle of Man Constabulary.