Chorley rape victim was sent letters from her attacker from his jail cell

A violent rapist whose terrifying and prolonged attack left a Chorley mum seriously injured has been given extra jail time for breaching a restraining order by sending her 13 letters from prison.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Martin Tootell, 32, from chorley managed to "circumvent" prison procedures in order to send correspondence to her father, using the names of other prisoners.

His former partner Christy Toulson bravely waived her right to anonymity to raise awareness of rape, after the former abattoir worker was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2016 for rape and intimidation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the time specialist nurses and police officers said Christy had the worst rape injuries they had seen in 30 years.

Christy, pictured with Tootell in 2011, after their baby daughter diedChristy, pictured with Tootell in 2011, after their baby daughter died
Christy, pictured with Tootell in 2011, after their baby daughter died

Tormented Christy had been subjected to violence from Tootell during their eight year relationship.

They previously featured in the Evening Post when their nine-month-old daughter Scarlet Rose died in 2012, and their “volatile” relationship had taken a dark turn following the baby's death, fuelled by his drinking.

They were estranged at the time of the attack, but sometimes spent time together in order for him to see his young sons, and he had also manipulated her by claiming he may be ill with cancer.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They had been out for the evening for her 30th birthday, but when he was invited back to her home, the night turned into a horrific ordeal that lasted until the morning.

Martin TootellMartin Tootell
Martin Tootell

As their children slept upstairs evil Tootell attacked her and goaded her by asking: “What’s it like to be raped?”

The attacks continued until the morning, and while seriously injured and upset, he pressurised her into writing and signing a letter stating she gave custody of their sons to him.

Terrified Christy managed to raise the alarm by texting her family.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Police arrested Tootell and Christy was taken to the Lancashire SAFE Centre, but staff couldn’t examine her as the agonising injuries were too severe. She was taken straight to A&E.”

Christy still suffers post-traumatic stress disorder and had to move away from the county to make a fresh start.

Today she said she still feared for her safety.

She adds: "The judge's sentence is a relief because the thought of Martin being released in the next couple of years was very difficult, especially for our eldest child.

"To me his actions show that even after six years in jail nothing has changed and he is still in the same frame of mind.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I don't know what was in the letters, I don't want to know, but it brings everything that happened up for me again.

"He's still not leaving me alone.

"There are still people who believe he's innocent and has done nothing wrong.

"To me he hasn't learned from what he's done and isn't safe to be let out.

"He is a massive danger, he is willing to try anything even using another inmate. He will give up until I'm dead."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At Preston Crown Court Tootell admitted 13 counts of breaching a restraining order.

He appeared to sigh and cry as he watched proceedings via a video link from HMP Garth.

Prosecuting, Jeremy Grout-Smith said in May 2019 prison officials became aware he was " circumventing the prison restriction" when he told another inmate in a letter he had tried to phone Christy.

In one he wrote: "I was thinking the first thing I want to do is see you and the boys", referring to his prison release which would have been in 2022.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Defending, Joe Boyd said he had wanted to show he continued to think and care about the children.

Judge David Potter imposed two years on top of his existing rape term.

He said: " You, persistently and with determination, breached that order time and time again by sending letters and cards intended for her and the children. You devised a scheme for getting those communications out of prison.

"One of them was coercive, threatening and talking of your 'ability' unless she calmed you down.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"These were deliberate communications in which you were letting her know you were receiving news about the development of the children.

"The effect on her and the eldest child was clearly extremely profound.

"But your attempts at communicating with her, which she has now found out about, has also now exacerbated the distress she felt at being raped by you."

*If you are affected by issues raised in this story you can call, police on 101, Lancashire Victims Services on 0300 323 0085, or the Lancashire SAFE Centre on 01772 523344.