Footballer's Brother Jailed For Rape In Newcastle

The brother of Sunderland footballer Titus Bramble has been jailed for four and a half years after being convicted of rape.

Tesfaye Bramble, who played for Southend United, Stockport County and Stevenage before his career was ended by injury, raped a 19-year-old woman in the Vermont Hotel in Newcastle following a night out.

Jailing him at Leeds Crown Court, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said Bramble had shown ``not a shred of remorse''.

A jury found 31-year-old Bramble, of Ipswich, guilty of rape following a week-long trial in June.

His brother, Sunderland defender Titus Bramble, attended the trial and gave evidence in his defence.

The judge said Bramble had been nightclubbing ``as is the custom, seemingly'', and the defendant had gone back to the hotel room where the victim was sleeping.

He added: ``There was only one reason why you went back to the room... and that was to have sexual intercourse with her.

``I am entirely satisfied she was asleep at the time and was incapable of giving her consent and you knew it.

``You, and those involved in such activities, seem to have an attitude borne out by the contents of the pre-sentence report that says when young women go back to hotels in those circumstances with footballers, they go back for one reason only and that is to have sexual intercourse.

``They have a right to be protected and she had a right to be there and to be left alone and you abused it.''