Bude man jailed for 10 years for violent and sexual offences
Dylan Cathrae was found guilty of rape and other serious offences by a jury at Truro Crown Court
Last updated 6th Nov 2025
A 20-year-old man from Bude has been jailed for 10 years after being found guilty of six offences, including rape and coercive and controlling behaviour.
Dylan Cathrae, formerly of Swallow Close in Bude, was sentenced today following a trial at Truro Crown Court.
The offences, for which he was found guilty by a jury in October, include rape, two counts of assault by penetration, coercive and controlling behaviour, non-fatal strangulation, and witness intimidation.
Cathrae had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment against a second victim.
In addition to his prison sentence, Cathrae was given a restraining order against both victims.
At trial the court heard that it was reported to police that Cathrae had raped and sexually assaulted the victim, behaving in a physically and emotionally abusive manner toward her including putting cigarettes out on her.
Cathrae was interviewed by detectives on multiple occasions about the reports. When asked questions about the incidents he claimed that the reports of sexual offending were made up out of jealousy.
When officers put to him that his behaviour could be construed as ‘obsessive’ and ‘controlling’, he replied saying ‘…how’s that a bad thing?’.
Following a trial at Truro Crown Court in October, the jury found him guilty on all counts.
Sentencing him to 10 years in prison, the judge told him "This is one of the worst cases of coercive and controlling behaviour I have seen"
At the hearing today the victim read a statement to the court in which she said the crimes had "ruined my life".
Investigating officer, DC Isla Ferguson said: “We welcome the sentence given and first and foremost I praise the victim for her strength and courage to report the crimes and support the criminal justice process.
“I hope that the outcome today may help her find some closure.
“I also hope that this case may encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to come forward and report it so that we can investigate and take action against perpetrators.”