Rapist offered to help sick man before sexually assaulting him

A rapist who offered to help a sick man before sexually assaulting him in an alley has been convicted.

Luke Bennett, 28, approached the victim, aged in his 20s, after a night out on August 9 last year.

He accompanied the man to an alleyway off Baddow Road in Chelmsford, Essex, and raped and sexually assaulted him.

Bennet then called an ambulance and waited with the victim but left when paramedics arrived.

He was arrested nearby a few hours later.

Learn more: M4 motorway closed after truck carrying ‘thousands of bottles of wine’ caught fire

Bennett, of Townsend, Chelmsford, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday following a trial.

He is due to be tried in the same court on July 25.

Detective Constable Ann-Marie Aubynn, who led the investigation, said: “Rape is often the use of power by one person against another.

“The victim in this case showed strength throughout the investigation and held firm until today when Bennett was sentenced and I want to commend her determination and courage in helping to ensure that justice is served.

“We support all victims of sexual assault or rape and encourage anyone who has been sexually assaulted to have the courage to come forward and report it to us. We will support you too.”

Learn more: Mother takes 12-year-old son to daughter’s house after he calls her ‘fat and ugly’ in text messages

Police forces in England and Wales have recorded the highest number of rapes and sexual offences in the 12 months to September.

At the same time, the proportion of suspects brought to justice reached a new record and remains the lowest for rape cases.

A report published earlier this year by MPs concluded that rape victims were being “failed by our criminal justice system”.

The Commons Home Affairs Committee has warned that the “unacceptably low” number of suspects being brought to justice for rape and sexual offences will persist “without stronger reforms” to the criminal justice system and that “significant funding will be required to have an impact”.