Alleged rape victim left in limbo after suspect goes on the run for two years

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/alleged-rape-victim-left-in-limbo-after-suspect-goes-on-the-run-for-two-years/a1143341696.html

A Co Down man charged with raping and falsely imprisoning a woman has been on the run for almost two years after refusing to attend his trial, claiming to be a freeman of the land.

Paul Conrad Wilson, who calls himself Paul of Katesbridge, was charged with raping the woman in February 2021.
The alleged victim said she has been “left in limbo”, not knowing when — if ever — the case will come to court.
“I’ve done a lot of work on myself to try and get to a better place, but there isn’t a day goes by I don’t think about it,” she said this week.

“I showed up in court on four or five occasions to give evidence, but he has just disappeared and I’ve been left not knowing when I’m going to get a call saying he has been found.”
Police have only issued one appeal for information — back in December 2023. That was six months after a bench warrant was issued for the 54-year-old who claims not to recognise the court as a freeman of the land.
The complainant in the case said she was told he was spotted in England but had moved on by the time police arrived.

The Belfast Telegraph visited several addresses linked to Wilson in Newry and Castlewellan but there was no sign of him. The last known address listed with the court service is that of a well-known business family.
The property features in a widely-seen YouTube video of Wilson refusing to answer the door to police saying they have “no contract” with him. The door is then put in with a battering ram and police arrest him for breach of bail as his supporters try and interfere with the arrest.
After his arrest he was re-released on bail.

Police appeal about Wilson's whereabouts
He also filmed himself going into Newry station claiming police had “kidnapped” him during his previous arrest and demanding it be investigated.
He had been returned to the Crown Court for trial but failed to attend, cutting a tag off his ankle before disappearing.
Wilson registered himself with Companies House as a limited company with his occupation listed as ‘strawman’ in July 2022. His nationality is recorded as ‘English’.
He changed the address of the ‘company’ in September 2023 to an office in Linenhall Street in Belfast, after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Previously of Castlevennon Road, Katesbridge but with a last known address at Moor Road, Ballyward, Wilson is accused of raping, falsely imprisoning and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to a woman between February 1 and 3, 2021. The case was originally heard by Newry Magistrates Court and a Preliminary Investigation (PI) was heard.
At the time a defence barrister said Wilson was “confused” about the purpose of the hearing as “he understood this was a review. He informs me he has a large volume of material he wishes me to see before proceedings and I request an adjournment to allow that.”

The prosecution opposed this, pointing out the case has been listed for some time and the complainant had attended, escorted by the investigating officer.

The committal went ahead and Wilson did not object to the proceedings and declined to call witnesses or give evidence at that stage.
The prosecutor said there was a case to answer, which was supported by District Judge Eamonn King.

Wilson was released on continuing bail to appear at Newry Crown Court.
He also applied for reporting restrictions at the same time, which was refused by Judge King who said: “Your application is declined given the history of what has gone on in this case over the last 15 months.”

Between this hearing and the next review hearing Wilson was no longer represented by his lawyers.
He also filmed himself at Ardmore PSNI Station in Newry accompanied by a small group of supporters, carrying files and claiming he wanted to make a criminal complaint against his former solicitors and alleging he had been “kidnapped” by the PSNI.
He later failed to attend his trial and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest on June 16, 2023.

The PSNI said an Operation Relentless appeal was issued to the public in December 2023. Operation Relentless was an initiative by the PSNI to post the pictures of wanted suspects online and ask the public for information on their whereabouts.
A spokesperson said: “Concerted attempts have and will continue to take place in attempting to locate this individual and present him to the courts.”
The complainant in the case said she lives in daily fear.

“I’m in a much better place than I was and rebuilding my life, but also aware that he could be anywhere, I could meet him in the street and that terrifies me,” she said.
The Belfast Telegraph contacted Paul Wilson on an email address he had previously used to complain about court coverage of his case.
He responded denying knowing anything about the bench warrant and refused to say why he has failed to attend court and had evaded police for almost two years.