Bank fraudster raped woman helping him

Christopher Key was due to attend a hearing at Leeds Crown Court on January 22 facing a fraud offence against First Direct Bank and had arranged to travel from Kent and stay at the woman's home the previous night.

Jonathan Devlin, prosecuting, told the court yesterday Key did not make his appearance because by then he had been arrested for the sexual offences in Leeds. His victim says she was raped after she woke to find him in her bed.

Key, 26, of Kingfisher Avenue, Hythe, Kent, admitted one charge of sexual assault and was convicted by a jury of raping her and a second sexual assault. He also pleaded guilty to fraud by converting criminal property.

Jailing him for six years and eight months Judge Paul Hoffman said drink and cocaine had played a part in Key's sex offences but that was no excuse. They were also aggravated by the fact he was on bail and under a community order at the time. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Mr Devlin said the dishonesty involved a simple fraud started by the First Direct Bank's then head of fraud operations. He abused his position to siphon money from internet accounts, with the money moved into the accounts of other people who then withdrew it for him for a share of the cash. Key was one of the people, withdrawing 7,000 paid into his account.

Sabrina Hartshorn, for Key, said he handed that cash over to an accomplice of the main fraudster receiving 500 for his part. The sexual offences were "opportunistic and impulsive".