15.12.07 – By Andrew Wake: Sheffield heavyweight Paul King (real name John Paul King) has been jailed for brutally raping two prostitutes and an innocent teenage girl in three separate incidents occurring between August 2004 and February of this year..
Judge Trevor Barber prosecuting, described King (5-18-1 with 1 KO) as “arrogant” and as “devoid of humanity and conscience”. He also criticised the way in which the Police had handled the allegations after it emerged that the first attack, which involved the boxer punching and attempting to strangle his victim, was virtually ignored. The fighter was questioned but allowed to walk free, enabling him to strike twice more.
He was given three life sentences and will not be eligible for parole until 2015.
Detective Superintendent Tim Forber, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “John Paul King is a predatory sex offender who took advantage of young, vulnerable women whom he did not think would complain or would not be believed if they did.
“The violence used in some cases was extreme and the length of the sentence given by the courts reflects the seriousness of the crime.”
The jury at Sheffield Crown Court heard that vile King had used his mobile phone to take photographs of himself as he carried out his depraved attacks and that he is also awaiting trial for three non-related allegations for causing actual bodily harm after a nightclub fracas.
33 year old King, who has worked as a bodyguard for light welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton, was due to face 2000 Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison at the Hallam FM Arena in September on the undercard of Clinton Woods’ title defence to Julio Gonzalez but that fight was scraped after Harrison was injured in a car accident.
His last fight was six round points loss to former British heavyweight champion Scott Gammer in June.