JUDGE SLAMS RAPIST WHO ATTACKED SLEEPING WOMAN TO GET ONE OVER ON FRIEND
A TOP judge has blasted a rapist who saw his attack on a sleeping woman as ‘lads’ banter’.Judge Hilary Manley hit out at Daniel Dennis, 27, after hearing how he had raped the woman simply to ‘get one over’ on a friend who just romped with her in a rented apartment.
Dennis had sneaked into the room while the 23-year old woman was with his friend Craig Flash and then hid behind a curtain before locking him in the bathroom when he went to the toilet.
Although Flash was allowed back out, Dennis then waited for him to nod off before raping the woman as she lay asleep next to him.
He fled in a change of clothing when she woke up to find him having intercourse with her.
Dennis later claimed he was simply ‘cock-blocking’ – a slang term for an action intended to prevent someone else from having sex with a woman.
He claimed Flash had stopped him having sex with a different woman on a previous occasion by walking in on them as they were getting intimate.
At Manchester Crown Court, Dennis, from Wolverhampton denied rape but was convicted after a trial and jailed for six years.
Judge Manley told him: ”You and your friends acted in a way that was shameful.
You displayed a blatant disregard for women with little regards for their feelings.
“The fact you engaged in behaviour that you describe as cock-blocking to disturb your friend in his private business with this woman.
“It’s sometimes said by men who behave like you and your friends did that night, that it’s just banter and being lads together, but it reflects a deeper and more worrying attitude towards women.
You are not 16, you are in your 20s.
“You appeared in the room after your victim had consented to sex with Craig Flash.
You locked him in the bathroom and said you wanted to f*** her.
“You specifically targeted her whether due to your need for sex or to get one over on your friend.
She woke up and screamed at you to get off her.
It must have been a traumatic frightening and embarrassing experience for her.
You then tried to front it out by claiming she welcomed you to have sexual intercourse with her.
“She no longer feels safe, she feels vulnerable and suffers mood swings.
She can’t discuss what happened with her family, she’s isolated.
She had nightmares and suffers financially.
It was clear in the trial that this victim still suffers.” This happened while she slept in bed next to the man she hoped would protect her.
The incident occurred on September 6 2014 when Dennis was visiting Manchester for his friend’s 25th birthday party.
They met in Entourage bar before he, four other men and three women including the victim went back to the Place Aparthotel in the city centre, where the attack occurred.
In mitigation defence counsel Miss Parveen Mansoor, said Dennis’s girlfriend of three years was standing by him.
But in a victim impact statement the woman said: “Since what happened, my whole life has changed.
I no longer feel safe and am wary of any man who tries to talk to me.
“I find it hard to speak to any man.
I don’t go out with my friends anymore I stay in because I know I’m safe there.
“I’ve lost contact with friends and keep myself to myself.
What happened to me has affected my mum and dad they have had to take time off work.
“I can’t speak to them about the rape because I don’t want to upset them.
“I’ve tried counselling but I don’t think I was ready.
I’ve been prescribed anti depressants and have anxiety and panic attacks.
“I have nightmares which include me being raped and him chasing me.
I’ve lost out from pay at work and lost pay on having to get tablets and paying for prescriptions every month.
“If that night had never happened I would still be my bubbly self.
I will not let him ruin my life but that’s easier said than done.” As Dennis was being sentenced his sister Rachel flew into a rage shouting: “He didn’t do it, he didn’t do it.
That’s my brother you’re talking about” then told the judge: “You’re a bitch.
You’re racist all of you.” She was sent to the cells but freed after the judge accepted an apology.
