Derek Rowley, 46, from Gillingham was found guilty of 11 counts of rape and one count of administering a substance with intent after livestreaming attacks on unconscious victim
A man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison after he drugged and repeatedly raped a man who fell ill and lost consciousness following “chem sex” and subsequently died.
What began as consensual sex and drug use at Derek Rowley’s residence in Gillingham, Kent, took a chilling turn when the 46-year-old started administering drugs to his victim around 5.10pm, when he was “completely limp and unresponsive”, and sexually assaulted him whilst broadcasting it live.
The court heard that the victim passed away around 7.30pm due to mixed drug toxicity. At Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Robert Lazarus stated that Rowley had shown “complete disregard for his (the victim’s) wellbeing”.
He continued: “(It) needs to be said… that anybody with a sense of humanity would have called an ambulance as soon as (the victim) fell into a coma and not proceed to rape him repeatedly over a period of one hour and 20 minutes.
“You wanted to drug (the victim) to the extent of putting him into a coma and once you did that you wanted to rape him multiple times whilst livestreaming this.”
The court was told how Rowley gave a “thumbs up” to those watching on the laptop, and the judge added that whether the livestream was actually functioning or not was “neither here nor there”.
Rowley was convicted of 11 counts of rape and one count of administering a substance with intent following a trial in November last year.
The Crown Prosecution Service revealed that he had encountered the victim on Grindr, who visited his home for an afternoon of sex and drugs, including GHB, crystal meth and ketamine in May 2024.
An impact statement read out in court on behalf of the victim’s partner portrayed him as “gentle, empathetic, he was one of the good guys” and expressed the “massive gaping hole left in my heart”.
He confessed: “I feel broken and shattered by it all, I don’t really sleep, still feel like I’m in survival mode and I’m stuck.”
Statements from the victim’s family members also conveyed that the knowledge of his suffering is “unbearable and stays with us every day”.
They claimed his abuse was “entirely preventable” and what transpired involved “reckless behaviour” that robbed him of his dignity.
After the sentencing, Kent Police Detective Inspector Lee Neiles commented: “This was a truly shocking and disturbing case.
“Rowley exploited the victim in the most appalling way, showing complete disregard for his welfare.
“Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family during this incredibly difficult time who have shown tremendous dignity throughout the investigation and trial.”