WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Gary Longfield was convicted of raping a woman he met at a Pembrokeshire nightclub and took back to his home. He was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison
A man “took advantage” of a drunk young woman he encountered at a nightclub and sexually assaulted her after bringing her to his home, a court has been told.
The woman can recall very little about what occurred at Gary Longfield’s residence but does remember overhearing several male voices discussing removing her clothes. The defendant refuted any wrongdoing but was found guilty following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.
Sentencing the 43-year-old to imprisonment, a judge said it was troubling that he continues to deny the offences and shows no understanding of his conduct. The court was told that Longfield encountered the complainant at a nightclub in Pembrokeshire during spring 2022 when the woman was out with friends marking a birthday.
The defendant, complainant, and several males then travelled back to Longfield’s residence. The woman has no memory of being sexually attacked but recalls hearing male voices talking about undressing her, and remembers being roused by police officers asking if she knew her whereabouts.
The court heard that it took officers 10 minutes to wake the woman from her unconscious state, reports Wales Online. In a statement read out in court by prosecuting barrister Ian Wright, the victim revealed that she used to believe everyone was “good and nice”, but now admits: “I don’t see the world that way any more”.
She confessed that she was once outgoing, but since the assault, she has become withdrawn and struggles to trust people. The attack has left her with severe anxiety, affecting her work, and she is terrified to sleep due to the nightmares she suffers.
Gary Longfield, from Corporation Terrace, Pembroke Dock, had previously been found guilty of rape and assault by penetration and returned to the dock for sentencing. He has past convictions for public order offences dating back to 2001 and 2002.
Defending Longfield, Robin Rouch stated that character references presented to the court spoke highly of his client, suggesting there is “clearly a different side” to the defendant. The barrister acknowledged that the inevitable prison sentence Longfield faced would affect those close to him, but conceded: “He has brought that upon himself”.
Recorder David Harris noted that Longfield was among several men initially at the defendant’s house with the intoxicated woman. He was satisfied that at some point during the night, the defendant told his friends to “p*** off” and leave the property.
Addressing Longfield, he said: “You took advantage of a young woman in a vulnerable state and you sexually abused her by committing offences of rape and assault by penetration.”
The recorder expressed concern that the defendant continues to refute the charges and shows no understanding of what drove him to act in such a manner. He also noted he had reviewed character references which praised the defendant, stating: “It is clear to me that the alcohol you consumed caused you to behave in a way they do not recognise”.
Longfield was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years behind bars. He will spend two-thirds of his term in prison before being freed on licence to complete the remaining period in the community. The defendant will remain on the sex offenders register for life and was issued with an indefinite restraining order.
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