'I still love you': Cambridge graduate wife mouths support for rapist husband who told victim he was attacking her because 'he didn't get sex at home' as he gets life

Adriana Ford-Thompson describes husband Mark as 'kind and sensitive'

Sentenced to life with 11-year minimum for sex assaults on four women

But wife vows to stand by martial arts expert husband, a pastor's son

Pair believed to have met while both working in Tanzania in 2006



He told victim: 'I don't get sex from my wife, so I go to get it elsewhere'

A Cambridge University graduate has defended her sex predator husband who told his victim he was raping her because 'he didn't get sex from his wife'.

Adriana Ford-Thompson, a York University research and teaching fellow, described her 37-year-old husband Mark Thompson - branded a danger to women by the judge - as ‘gentle, kind and sensitive’.

The environmentalist said the jury had 'taken my husband away from me' by finding him guilty, before he was given life in jail for the kidnap and rape of a student and sex attacks on three other women.

Rapist Mark Thompson and his wife, York University academic Adriana Ford-Thompson. She mouthed 'I love you' to him as he was jailed.

Backing: Adriana Ford-Thompson (left) described her husband Mark Thompson (right in a picture issued today by police)as 'gentle, kind and sensitive' but he was branded a danger to women by the judge.

Mrs Ford-Thompson, who worked in Tanzania with her future husband in 2006 on a research project into sustainable forestry, sat through every day of his trial and vowed to stand by him despite hearing harrowing details of the ordeal suffered by a 21-year-old student at the university she works at.

The woman was walking home from her job in a club at 3.50am when he snatched her from the street and bundled her into his white van before raping her three times as he drove around the city.

Teesside Crown Court heard that at one point, martial arts expert Thompson - who is the son of a church pastor - told the undergraduate: ‘I don't get sex from my wife, so I go to get it elsewhere.’

But despite the shocking details of self-confessed drug taker and adulterer Thompson's crimes, Mrs Ford-Thompson mouthed ‘I love you’ and ‘stay strong’ to him throughout the nine-day trial.

After a jury convicted him of nine sex offences including kidnap, rape and attempted rape, she said: ‘He is a sensitive, kind, soft, gentle man.

‘I have known him for ten years, he is my best friend. I will stand by him through all of this. They have taken my husband away from me. He is not the man they are making him out to be.

'Mark and I will face this challenge ahead together with courage, love and patience.’



Thompson moved from Jamaica to London at the age of 16, where he took up boxing, before heading to Tanzania in 2005 to teach martial arts.



He met his wife while she was over there conducting research and in 2007 moved to York to be with her while she finished her PhD. They married in 2009.



The jury which convicted Thompson heard he put the student in a headlock and dragged her to his van which he had parked around the corner.

He told the terrified young woman: 'You have two options - you can give me what I want and you tell nobody what has happened, or tonight is the night you die.'

Adriana Ford-Thompson poses with her husband Mark Thompson on a beach holiday before he was arrested for rape. He was jailed today but the Cambridge graduate said he would stand by him, despite his lawyer claiming he was motivated by not having sex with his wife.

Mark Thompson holds his wife Adriana Ford-Thompson at their wedding. The Cambridge graduate is standing by her husband, a martial arts expert, despite him being jailed for a series of sex attacks on woman, including one rape.

Workplace: Mrs Ford-Thompson is a research and teaching fellow at York University (pictured). The court heard harrowing details of the ordeal suffered by a 21-year-old student at the same university

She eventually escaped his clutches by leaping from his van as he stopped at a red light and running through the streets until she fell into the arms of a retired policeman and told him: ‘I've been raped.’

An investigation into Thompson's background upon his arrest revealed an earlier sex attack that had been reported against him in 2009.

Following publicity surrounding his arrest two other women came forward to say he had attacked them in their beds. One of the women was only spared from being raped because Thompson was unable to undo the zip on the ‘onesie’ she wore to bed.

'I don't get sex from my wife, so I go to get it elsewhere' Mark Thompson

After Judge Michael Taylor jailed Thompson for life and ordered he must serve a minimum of 11 years, the rapist clenched his hands in front of his head and bowed to both judge and jury.

When he was found guilty his wife was heard to say the jury had ruined her life.



Judge Taylor told Thompson: ‘You sexually abused four young women, you fought your trial to the bitter end and you have shown not on ounce of mercy or remorse for these offences which amount to any woman's worst nightmare.

‘You are only 37 years of age and I treat you as a man of previous good character but this catalogue of offences is truly horrific.’

He went on: ‘You are one of the most dangerous offenders I have ever had to deal with in my entire judicial career.

‘You will not take no for an answer, you will pursue women even into their own homes. In my view you pose a significant risk to women for many, many years into the future.’

Martial arts expert Mark Thompson with his wife Adriana Ford-Thompson. He was jailed for a minimum of 11 years today for a series of sex attacks and a rape carried out in York. He claimed he had to look for sex away from home because he was not having enough with his wife.

Hearing: Teesside Crown Court (pictured) was told that at one point, martial arts expert Thompson - who is the son of a church pastor - told the undergraduate: 'I don't get sex from my wife, so I go to get it elsewhere'

He said the victim who was snatched and raped by Thompson had been profoundly affected, with the incident ruining her academic life and leaving her afraid to go out at night.

Judge Taylor said: ‘You dragged her into a vehicle where you subjected her to the most awful sexual contact over a period of five hours.

‘You raped her and you made it plain that if she did not go along with what you were doing it would be her last day on earth.’

The court had heard that on October 29 last year the student was at her part-time job in a city centre club and was working on a Halloween-themed evening so wore a fancy dress outfit.

When Thompson was arrested and interviewed on October 30 and in interview, he gave no reply at first, but later claimed the student had stopped to show him her outfit before voluntarily getting into his van and having sex with him.

'You have two options - you can give me what I want and you tell nobody what has happened, or tonight is the night you die' Mark Thompson

Giving evidence, he said: ‘It is not in my nature. I have got no reason to rape her. It is impossible.’

Thompson also admitted being an adulterer and taking drugs, such as cocaine, when he was younger - but denied rape and kidnap. He said: ‘I have committed a sin. I think that is between me and my wife.’

Following the rape of the student, police started making inquiries into Thompson and discovered the earlier case from 2009 which never reached court.

On February 29 of that year a young woman left work at a city centre bar and was grabbed from behind by Thompson.

She was forced into the shop entrance where he began thrusting his groin forcibly at hers. She screamed and doormen and members of the public came running to save her.

She was shouting: ‘He tried to rape me,’ but Thompson responded to the men who had come to her rescue: ‘Don't worry about it brother, she is my girl, seriously blood you can go home - I would not go with another girl when I have a picture of my wife in my wallet.’

FROM MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR AND DECORATOR TO SEX PREDATOR Thompson grew up in Jamaica before moving to London at the age of 16 where he took up boxing at a gym in Streatham, south London Prior to his conviction, Mark Thompson was a painter and decorator by day who also made his living by offering martial arts classes to ‘all abilities and ages’. He grew up in Jamaica before moving to London at the age of 16 where he took up boxing at a gym in Streatham, south London. During that time he trained in different forms of martial arts and kick-boxing. Following a trip to Tanzania in 2006 - where it is believed he met his wife Adriana who was on a research trip into sustainable forestry in the country at the same time -Thompson set up a martial arts website. Promoting his classes in the York area via his Kilimanjaro Dojo business – supposedly named after being inspired by his Tanzania trip – Thompson describes himself as having ‘over 18 years of experience in a range of martial art styles’. He says: ‘Growing up in Jamaica, I was taught by my father and rapidly developed a passion for all things related to martial arts.’ The instructor offers one-to-one and small group classes in self-defence with private lessons costing £20 for a one hour and a half session and group lessons costing £7.50 per person. His other business – a painting and decorating firm called Doctor Bird Decorating – offers ‘daytime, evening and weekend services’ with prices costing from £11 per hour. He claims to have over 20 years of experience in the field having trained with the National Construction College through the Build On Skills in London. He also claims to have received business training with the Prince’s Trust after moving to the UK and over the years says he has ‘worked in painting, maintenance, gardening and labouring’. Promoting his classes in the York area via his Kilimanjaro Dojo business - supposedly named after being inspired by his Tanzania trip - Thompson describes himself as having 'over 18 years of experience in a range of martial art styles' In 2012, he established Doctor Bird Decorating to ‘bring all this experience to the people of Yorkshire’. Testimonials on his website praise his work, including one which says: ‘We got several quotes for the work we’ve had done, but none were as cheap as Dr Bird. He was efficient, conscientious and hard working. We are very pleased with his work and will be asking him to complete the painting work required on our house’. Another reads: ‘Mark did a more than remarkable work in the PG student house. Initially I asked for his help to paint a room, but he ended helping me with much more things and left the house much more beautiful. He offers a very high quality service in record time. I will recommend him without hesitation’.

Thompson was arrested and interviewed but he said that she initiated the sexual contact and the investigation never reached court. But he has now been convicted of sexually assaulting the woman.

Last night, the mother of the victim said of his sentencing: ‘It is a big relief to know he is locked up and will not be able to hurt anyone else.’



She said she had heard his wife was the only one visiting him in prison. She added: ‘I find it very strange. He’s obviously a really good liar.



Following publicity surrounding his arrest, two other women also came forward and one of them revealed she had been sexually assaulted by Thompson just hours before he kidnapped and raped the student.

The woman had been at home on October 29 when a house-mate and friend of Thompson invited him to the house for a meal and drinks.

Thompson left but was later allowed back to sleep on the sofa because he said he had fallen out with his wife.

However he got off the sofa and went into the woman's bedroom where he attempted to sexually assault her, failing only because her terrified screams brought their friend running carrying a baseball bat.

'You are one of the most dangerous offenders I have ever had to deal with in my entire judicial career. You will not take no for an answer' Judge Michael Taylor

The remaining victim, a 32-year-old woman from York, was attacked by Thompson on July 13th last year when he was invited to stay at her house, again by a mutual friend.

He left at her instruction after trying to get into her bed and drove himself and friends away in his white van.

But he later returned, letting himself in through the front door before he pounced on the woman and pinned down her arms, trying to undo the zip on the ‘onesie’ she was wearing in bed.

After a struggle he failed to do so and the woman pleaded with him saying 'If you had a mother or sister you would not do this.'

She fled downstairs and grabbed a knife but Thompson told her ‘You will never be able to overcome me with that, I am a martial arts expert.’

She eventually escaped by fleeing into the alley behind her house and raising the alarm.