Man, 28, who raped women he met on Tinder and Snapchat after inviting them to his house is jailed

Two women were praised for their bravery after the man who raped them was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Bristol Crown Court heard how Tony Heath attacked both victims at his property after meeting on dating app Tinder and social media app Snapchat.

The 28-year-old actor, from Avonmouth, was sentenced last Wednesday to two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

He was convicted by a jury in the same court on September 26.

Heath invited his first victim to his home after meeting her on Tinder a few days earlier, where he sexually assaulted and raped her.

After kicking him, he managed to escape.

Heath contacted the second woman via Snapchat and asked her to come to his house to watch a movie.

She agreed and he later raped her.

The women, who were in their teens and early 20s at the time of the crime, were offered support throughout the investigation and trial.

The court heard evidence from both women about how being attacked had greatly affected their mental health.

The first woman said: ‘I’ve been thinking about this non-stop until today, even though everyone says ‘don’t think’, that’s all I do. I reviewed what happened and felt like I was guilty and deserved it.

‘But they put me in this situation because of him, I was weak and froze. ‘He took all my dignity away from me.’

The second woman, whose statement was read on her behalf in court, said: ‘A few days after this incident, I started having nightmares. I was having nightmares that I would be there in the room and I couldn’t take it off.

‘More than six months later, I still have these nightmares several times a week.

‘I now have difficulty with any form of physical contact with men, including those closest to me, and I can no longer allow my father or cousin to hug me.

‘Although I am relieved that I have gone through investigation and trial, it does not change what he did to me; ‘This still has an impact on me and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.’

Two officers involved in the case, DC Cecilia Lock and DC Alastair Lee, praised both women for having the strength to come forward.

They said: ‘Both women in this case showed extraordinary courage in reporting Heath. Such convictions would not have been possible without their courage in supporting the police investigation.

Heath’s actions had a profound impact on his victims, who were vulnerable and younger than him, and who I hope will be able to rebuild their lives.

‘We hope this conviction sends an important message; Acts of violence against women and girls will never be tolerated and every victim deserves to be heard and supported.’