BRISTOL SEX OFFENDER CHRISTIAN DARE SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN LIVINGSTON

A man from Bristol, Christian Dare, aged 27, has been handed a substantial prison sentence after being convicted of raping a woman in Livingston. The incident took place at the victim’s residence in Dunfermline, where Dare forcibly assaulted her despite her clear protests and warnings.

The High Court in Livingston heard that the victim initially requested a simple shoulder massage from Dare. During the massage, she explicitly told him, 'no, I don’t want to have sex,' when his hands moved down her back. Despite her verbal refusal, Dare disregarded her pleas and continued his assault. The woman recounted feeling a mixture of fear and shock as Dare forced himself upon her, ignoring her protests. After the assault, Dare offered an apology, claiming that his actions were an attempt to be 'a bit kinky' and that he had a desire to 'dominate' her.

Christian Dare denied the charge of rape on January 25, 2020, but the jury found him guilty by a majority verdict. Some parts of the charge were dismissed by the jurors, but the core conviction stood. The court’s decision led to a significant sentencing at the Livingston High Court, where Judge Susan Craig sentenced Dare to four years and three months in prison. Additionally, she ordered him to register as a sex offender indefinitely, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions.

During the sentencing, Judge Craig highlighted that Dare was fully aware that the woman did not consent to sexual activity but chose to proceed regardless. She underscored the emotional and psychological harm inflicted upon the victim, referencing her victim impact statement, which detailed the profound effects of the assault.

In her remarks, Judge Craig stated, “Christian Dare – the jury convicted you by a majority of raping your victim. It was clear from the evidence that she had explicitly told you that she did not want to have intercourse with you, and why, but you ignored that and went on to rape her. It was also clear from your evidence at trial that you knew she had said no, but you had sex with her nonetheless. That, Mr Dare, is rape and that is why the jury, quite properly, convicted you.”

She further noted that Dare’s lack of acknowledgment or acceptance of guilt during the trial and in the social work report made it difficult to assess his risk level. Despite this, the judge considered his lack of previous convictions and the absence of a broader history of domestic or sexual offenses. The sentence was also influenced by his age, his otherwise pro-social life, and his support network, which includes friends and family.

Judge Craig pointed out that Dare has no prior criminal record and has no connections to Scotland, which could make serving his sentence particularly challenging. She also acknowledged that Dare and his partner are responsible for a foster child in the Netherlands, who will now have to be cared for without his support. The sentence, backdated to his remand date of August 4, 2023, reflects these considerations, with three months added for domestic aggravation related to the charge.

Finally, Dare will remain subject to the mandatory registration requirements for sex offenders for an indefinite period, and his name will be added to the list of individuals deemed unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions.