WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: A man in his 40s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded guilty to 32 sexual offences against his girlfriend over more than a decade, and could face a life sentence
A man has been warned he could face a life sentence after admitting to 32 sexual offences against his girlfriend while she was allegedly drugged or asleep, including some attacks he filmed.
The accused, in his 40s, who cannot be identified due to legal reasons, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday where he confessed to the crimes which occurred over more than a decade from January 2014 to September last year.
Ten of the offences, encompassing rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration, were committed “together with a person unknown”, the court was informed. The court did not learn how many other individuals were involved, but recordings of some of the offences were discovered on the defendant’s devices.
The accused, who stood in the dock in a green T-shirt, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of rape, 14 counts of assault by penetration, and six counts of sexual assault.
Four of the rape counts involved “a person unknown”, as well as four of the assault by penetration counts, and two of the sexual assaults.
The man was noticeably emotional throughout his arraignment and asked the judge partway through: “Can I just have one moment please?” before sitting with his head bowed in the dock in silence for a brief period.
The court was told that the defence disputes the prosecution’s assertion that the victim was drugged during all of the offences.
Prosecutor Alexandra Felix KC informed the court: “The prosecution maintains all of these offences were committed while the victim had been drugged and stupefied. That’s not accepted in its entirety.”
She stated the matter is whether the victim was “asleep or had been drugged”. Defence barrister Nathalie Carter informed the court: “(The defendant) made it clear to me from the beginning he didn’t want to contest any matters.”
Ms Carter said there would not be a Newton hearing, which occurs when the facts of a case are disputed between the prosecution and defence.
Judge David Herbert KC told the defendant, who is due to be sentenced on September 18, that a “very substantial prison sentence is inevitable”.
The judge said he will need to consider “whether a life sentence is appropriate”.
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