RINGWOOD RAPIST JAILED FOR 10 YEARS AFTER REPEAT ABUSE
A RAPIST has been jailed for a decade after he raped and repeatedly violently assaulted a female victim over a period of several months.Chad Antony Martin Smedburg, aged 36 and of Ringwood, was sentenced to 10 years in prison – with an extended licence period of a further two years – for repeated violent assaults and rape involving the same female victim.
The defendant’s abuse spanned a period of several months, with his victim subjected to repeated assaults and he also had sex with her despite her making it clear she did not consent.
The victim reported the offending to police and was supported by officers and an independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) as detectives from Dorset County CID carried out a detailed investigation and the matter went through the court process.
Following the offences, the defendant was brought under the supervision of Dorset Police’s High Harm Unit, which monitors the highest risk violence against woman and girls offenders in the county.
Smedburg subsequently entered guilty pleas to an offence of rape and three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, as well as breaching a suspended sentence order and unrelated driving matters and possession of class A and class B drugs.
He was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday, May 6.
Detectives have praised the victim for her bravery and support in bringing a violent sexual offender to justice.
Investigations officer Flo Winstanley, of Dorset County CID, said: “First and foremost I want to praise the victim for the courage she has shown initially to come forward and report this despicable abuse and then for her support throughout the investigation and court process.
“I hope the bravery she has shown encourages other victims of violent and sexual abuse to come forward in the knowledge that they will be supported and we will do all we can to bring perpetrators to justice.
“With the victim’s support and our comprehensive investigation, we were able to hold Chad Smedburg to account for his violent sexual behaviour.”
