Crewe man jailed for 16 years for raping and assaulting woman
John Dawson found guilty of multiple offences including rape, strangulation and coercive control
A Crewe man has been jailed for 16 years after being found guilty of raping and assaulting a woman, alongside a string of other abusive offences.
John Dawson, aged 37, of Ernest Street in Crewe, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 16th October where he was sentenced.
He was found guilty of two rapes, intentional strangulation, assault, two counts of threatening to share an intimate photo or video, and engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour.
Pattern of abuse uncovered
The investigation began after police received a report of rape at a hotel in Crewe.
Further enquiries revealed that Dawson had been controlling the woman financially, taking money from her account and monitoring her social media and messaging apps.
He also isolated her from her friends and family, called her derogatory names and physically assaulted her.
Dawson denied all the charges but was convicted following a trial in July 2025.
A second man was found not guilty of rape during the same trial.
Police: ‘Dawson’s behaviour was abhorrent’
Detective Constable Katherine Isherwood-Smith, who led the investigation, said: “Dawson’s behaviour towards this woman was criminal and abhorrent. Dawson was deemed so dangerous to women that the courts jailed him for a substantial period.
“No one should ever be subjected to such degrading, manipulative and arrogant behaviour, and I hope seeing this man behind bars for a considerable time encourages others to come forward who may be suffering abuse.
“And I hope it goes as a warning to those who inflict such horrific acts that society does not tolerate violence or abuse against anyone.”