Rapist's appeal against his 25-year prison sentence thrown out at High Court

Tony Chapman (42), formerly of Lindley Street, Eastwood, had his appeal dismissed on all grounds at Friday’s Court of Appeal hearing.

Chapman was jailed in May as part of the National Crime Agency’s investigation into historic abuse in Rotherham.

He was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of three counts of rape, actual bodily harm and making threats to kill against two teenage girls.

Chapman (pictured) also admitted before the nine-day trial to committing 11 counts of indecent assault against a girl aged 13.

During his trial, Chapman was described as “violent, controlling and temperamental”. 

Judge David Dixon said he was “a very dangerous man” who had “a particular fascination with girls of about 13 to 16”.

To date, Chapman has been handed the second-highest prison sentence for historical child sexual exploitation offences in Rotherham behind Arshid Hussain’s 35-year sentence for 24 offences against ten girls.