Man, 40, sentenced for attempted knifepoint rape

A 40-year-old man who tried to rape a woman at knifepoint in Northampton has been sentenced to six years and eight months in prison.

It was about 1.50am in the early hours of February 26, 2022, when Matt Mellor, previously of Kelmarsh Avenue, Leicester, began following a woman in her 20s in Wellingborough Road, Northampton.

When she got to Lutterworth Road, he grabbed her from behind and dragged her to the ground where he attempted to rape her at knifepoint.

But the woman managed to attract the attention of local residents, forcing Mellor to leave the scene and escape in his car.

An investigation was launched with police officers using CCTV, house-to-house enquiries and assistance from local business to quickly identify Mellor as the suspect and bring him to justice.

He was arrested in Leicester the same day, subsequently charged, and at an earlier court hearing in April this year, admitted to the offences of attempted rape, possession of a bladed article and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

Last week (June 10) at Northampton Crown Court, Mellor was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for all three offences with an eight-year extended sentence.  

Lead Investigator, DC Adam Kelly, said “To see Matt Mellor, a very dangerous sex offender, sent down for six years and eight months is a great result, and I’m really pleased that all of the hard work that has gone into this investigation has paid off.

“Mellor is a very large man, about 6ft 10in in height, and his actions that night resulted in an absolutely terrifying experience for this woman – a woman, who like all women, should have been able to walk wherever she liked without fear of such an attack.

“She showed tremendous bravery in fighting him off whilst shouting for help and I would like to commend her for her courage and the support she has given us throughout this case.

“I would also like to again thank the local residents who quickly came to her aid that night and also to local businesses in the area who assisted us with our enquiries and the procurement of CCTV which helped us to quickly piece together this crime. 

“Tackling violence against women and girl is a matter of priority for Northamptonshire Police and I hope this case demonstrates that fact.”

Northamptonshire Police takes reports of sexual assault very seriously and will always treat reports of this nature with the confidentiality and sensitivity they deserve. If you have been a victim of a sexual assault, whether recent or non-recent, please come forward by calling 101 or visiting www.northants.police.uk.

If you have been a victim of a sexual offence but are not yet ready to speak to the police, please visit www.voicenorthants.org or call Voice on 0300 303 1965. Voice is a support service for anyone living in Northamptonshire, regardless of when, where or how crime happened to you. Services are free, confidential and you don’t have to have reported anything to the police.