A “monstrous” former X factor contestant has been jailed for life after raping women over a 22 year period.
Phillip Blackwell, 56, equipped himself with a “rape kit”, taped some victims’ eyes shut and used a camcorder to film himself attacking women.
Blackwell admitted 31 sex offences and was described as one of “the most dangerous individuals” his sentencing judge had encountered in his career.
Blackwell carried out offences in Birmingham, Coventry, Nuneaton and the Launceston of Cornwall.
Blackwell of Launceston, pleaded guilty to offences including rape, attempted rape, indecent assault, assault by penetration, voyeurism and false imprisonment.
Blackwell was a contestant on X Factor in 2008 and toured with its live shows in 2009.
Judge Cook described Blackwell as a “devious and manipulative man who had left ruined and blighted lives in his wake.” Judge Cook added that Blackwell had “no regard whatsoever for (women) as human beings.”
The details of his sordid offences may be traumatic for some survivors so we have decided not to include most of the detail but the full post can be read here
Blackwell identified young females dressed in a particular way that he found attractive and followed them in his car in “cold, calculated behaviour”.
His offences dated between late 1990s in the Midland and the offences in the Launceston area between 2005 and 2019.
Head of the West Midlands Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Unit, Lawrence English, stated that Blackwell was “an extremely dangerous predator who serially raped women in the 1990s and again in the 2000s”.
As a result of the psychological harm caused, his victims may be entitled to claim criminal injuries compensation from the government funded authority based in Glasgow which compensates victims of blameless crimes.
Farleys Solicitors represent hundreds of survivors who have been subjected to horrific sexual assaults. For these individuals we realise there is unfortunately no getting away from the horrendous assaults they endured. However pursuing a claim often helps our clients to bring closure to their ordeal and provide resources for them to fund medical treatments and therapy.
Criminal injuries compensation payments are calculated and awarded by reference to a tariff of injuries, which includes awards for sexual and physical abuse as well as psychological injury following a crime of violence.
You can read more about CICA claims or read recent case studies on our website.
Our dedicated team support victims throughout the process, treating every case with the sensitivity, confidentiality and integrity it deserves. Contact the team for a confidential discussion on 0845 287 0939 or complete our online contact form and a member of the team will get in touch with you.
