17-year sentence for taxi driver leaves rapist Raymond Shorten in jail for 30 years

The judge said said the case reflects the 'unhappy reality' that women 'too often become the subject of sexual or other forms of physical violence, or the threat of it, when they go out to simply enjoy themselves'

Dublin taxi driver Raymond Shorten was jailed on Monday for 13 years following his conviction in May of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl in 2012.

A judge has said it is a “poor reflection” on the safety of women in society that the best advice for them to get home safely “without the fear of violent attack” after a night out is not get the bus or walk home alone, but to get a taxi.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott made the comments while imposing a 17-year sentence on Raymond Shorten (50) for the rape and anal rape of a 19-year-old woman on June 26, 2022, and the rape of another woman, then aged 20, a couple of months later on August 9.

Mr Justice McDermott ordered that the sentence imposed on Thursday in relation to these 2022 offences should run consecutive to a 13-year sentence imposed on Shorten on Monday for the rape and sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl in 2012.

Thursday’s sentence means that Shorten, of Melrose Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, will serve an effective sentence of 30 years for his sexual offending.

Shorten was convicted in May of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl in 2012. He was separately convicted at the Central Criminal Court in June of three rape offences, which occurred in 2022.

The court previously heard that the two young women in this case had separately found themselves in a taxi after a night out socialising and drinking in Dublin city centre in the summer of 2022, where Shorten raped them.

'Unhappy reality'

In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice McDermott said this case was about violence against women in society and the steps they must take to avoid or minimise this risk. He said the case reflects the “unhappy reality” that women “too often become the subject of sexual or other forms of physical violence, or the threat of it, when they go out to simply enjoy themselves”.

The judge said this indicates “an underlying unhealthy attitude towards women and their fundamental rights in any society, if their sense of freedom and security in doing normal things is so compromised”.

He said it is a “poor reflection on the level of security and safety of women” who go for a night out that the best advice to get home safely and “without fear of violent attack by a male, or without unwanted attention” is not to get a bus or walk home alone, which they should be able to do.

Mr Justice McDermott said using a taxi is a “reasonable” option and reflects the “level of trust” in that service. The judge said there are many stories of the “great kindness and helpfulness” of taxi drivers and that Shorten's behaviour would be regarded as “a gross betrayal of that high standard of service and professionalism”.

He said this is one of the reasons why this case had resonated with people and that breach of trust is an aggravating feature.

Mr Justice McDermott said it was a “disturbing feature” of the case that Shorten has also been convicted of sexually abusing a child. The judge noted the 13-year sentence imposed in relation to Shorten's offending against the young girl and said it was “significant” that he went on to repeat his offence against women he didn't know “without compunction or hesitation”.

He said Shorten identified two further victims, deliberately took advantage of their vulnerability and carried out the offences in the “most humiliating and demeaning” manner. He said Shorten had breached the trust of the victims, who expected him to get them home safely, and that the taxi should have been a place of security for them.

'Completely unrepentant'

The judge said Shorten “effectively preyed” on both women, who were intoxicated and vulnerable, and that there was evidence he “targeted” the first victim, who had not hailed a taxi.

He said Shorten does not accept the jury's verdict, maintains his innocence and has shown no remorse. He said Shorten was “completely unrepentant” for the damage inflicted on the victims in this case.

The judge acknowledged that Shorten is entitled to maintain that he did nothing wrong, but that this is a concern. However, Mr Justice McDermott said it is clear that Shorten “was, and remains, a danger to others,” in light of his previous offending.

He said:

This is a man who had already raped a child and years later set out to commit these offences within a short period of each other. He knew exactly what he was doing and appeared to do it with impunity.

He noted the harm, both physical and mental, caused to the victims in this case. The judge said the two women had “acted with great dignity and courage” by reporting the offences and giving evidence during the trial.

Sentencing

Mr Justice McDermott said that while a severe sentence is required in this case, he would not impose the maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The judge said there are “few” mitigating features in this case, but he had considered Shorten's family background and personal circumstances as outlined to the court.

While Shorten's offences against the young girl in 2012 were completely separate and distinct from this offending in 2022, the judge said he made a choice to commit two further rape offences and this had to be reflected in the sentence.

Mr Justice McDermott said he had considered the sentencing principles of proportionality and totality. He handed Shorten a nine-year sentence in respect of the first count of rape against the 19-year-old victim, to run consecutively to the 13-year sentence imposed on Monday.

He then imposed a sentence of eight years for the rape of the second victim, which is consecutive to the nine-year sentence. He imposed a 12-year sentence on the final count of rape, which is to run from the date of conviction.

Mr Justice McDermott declined to suspend any portion of the sentence, and imposed a 10-year period of post-release supervision on Shorten. He further directed Shorten is not to contact the victims in any way or to have unsupervised contact with a child.

Mr Justice McDermott granted an application from the defence to extend legal aid in the event of an appeal.

Rape of girl, 7

On Monday, while sentencing Shorten for the rape of the seven-year-old girl, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo noted that the first incident occurred in the days following the funeral of the child's mother. The judge said this showed a lack of “any compassion for the child” who would have been very vulnerable at the time.

He said the aggravating features of that case included the “deep and abiding damage” caused to the victim. These offences came to light in 2020 after the child left a note on her grandmother’s pillow.

In her victim impact statement, the now-20-year-old said it was only when she started sex education in school at the age of 14 that she understood what Shorten did was wrong. She said: “He should have protected me, not abused me.” 

Rape of first taxi passenger

In relation to Shorten’s 2022 offending, the court was previously told that the first victim had been drinking and socialising with friends on the night of June 25. She had a limited memory of her journey home, but recalled waking up in the front passenger seat of a car.

She said a man stopped the car, then moved her into the back seat where he raped her anally and vaginally. She said it was very sore and she was falling in and out of consciousness. When he finished, the man returned to the driver’s seat, then dropped her near her home.

In her victim impact statement, this woman described Shorten as a “predator” and said it was “shocking” that he raped two women. She said she had lost the ability to “feel carefree and safe in the streets”.

Rape of second taxi passenger

The second victim decided to get a taxi home after socialising in Dublin city centre on August 9 as she was tired and drunk. She fell asleep in the back of Shorten's taxi and said the next thing she remembered was waking up as he raped her. 

She said she was in shock and didn’t know how to fight back. Afterwards, he dropped her home where he asked for the €70 fare.

In her victim impact statement, this woman said she was told taking a taxi was the “safest option” after a night out. She said she did what every girl is told is safe, but it turned out to be “someone's worst nightmare”.

She said she tries to go out socialising, but “now my nights out usually end in tears because of what (Shorten) did to me.” 

Shorten was identified from CCTV and when interviewed, said the sexual contact with both women was consensual. Lorcan Staines SC, defending, said his client is a father of seven children and hopes to re-build his relationship with them in future.

Mr Staines said his client has lost his marriage and relationship with his parents. Shorten has a long work history, most recently as a taxi driver.

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