19 rapes - guilty verdict: cricketer's victim was too scared to say no

GUILTY . . . Dion Taljard

A FORMER Oldham cricketer is facing a lengthy jail sentence after being found guilty of repeated sexual assaults on a woman, said to have been too scared to say no to him.

Dion Taljard (47) was found guilty of 19 counts of rape, two of sexual assault, and a further one of intimidation following a week-long trial at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.

South African born Taljard who played for a number of local sides including Shaw and Heyside, had consistently maintained his innocence of the allegations, claiming the woman's story was all lies.

The jury of eight men and four women returned majority verdicts of guilty on all 22 counts after deliberating for more than a day and a half.

Trial Judge Maurice Greene, who will sentence him next month, told him he needed to decide whether he should be classed as dangerous, as violence and manipulation were involved. He warned him to expect a substantial custodial sentence.

Taljard, who has currently been involved in running an Oldham restaurant business, had gone on trial for a second time over the same allegations.

The first trial in November last year was halted after just two days of evidence had been heard.

The-then trial judge said he had no alternative to discharging the jury because of on-going inquiries into a matter which had arisen after the proceedings had started.

His victim told the court he had caused her "massive emotional and mental abuse" and she was still receiving counselling to help her get over what happened to her.

Taljard is said to have attacked her on "innumerable" occasions, almost always when he became violent and aggressive in drink.

She said he choked her by grabbing her by the throat, making it difficult for her to breathe on occasions, and says she twice passed out, waking to find him having sex with her.