MAN JAILED FOR DRUGGING AND RAPING UNCONSCIOUS VICTIM
A man has been found guilty of overpowering his chemsex partner with two doses of an illicit drug to rape him as many as 11 times while unconscious and just minutes before he died.Derek Rowley had denied administering the date rape drug GHB to his 60-year-old victim, whom he met via Grindr in Gillingham.
Rowley claimed the man asked to be 'put in a K-hole' and after shared drug-induced sexual activities, the victim became unresponsive.
He insisted he had permission to do as he wished sexually, but the court found otherwise.
He was convicted of one offence of administering a substance with intent to stupefy or overpower to enable sexual activity, and 11 offences of rape.
He faces a maximum life sentence, with sentencing deferred for the judge to consider the issue of dangerousness.
The victim died at Rowley's home, and footage recorded in the bedroom showed the event, with evidence indicating Rowley's reckless conduct during and after the incident.
Rowley was remanded into custody until sentencing scheduled for March 5.
—————————————————————————————————— A Gillingham man has been jailed after repeatedly assaulting another man during a drug-fuelled encounter that ended in tragedy.
Derek Rowley, 45, met the victim through a dating app before inviting him to his home.
The pair had arranged to meet for sex and drugs, but prosecutors told Maidstone Crown Court the situation soon turned extremely serious.
During the evening, a number of drugs were taken and the victim eventually became unresponsive and clearly unwell.
Despite this, Rowley continued to take advantage of the victim while he was incapable of giving consent.
The court heard that instead of immediately calling for help, Rowley delayed contacting emergency services while the victim’s condition deteriorated.
Paramedics were eventually called, but the victim later died.
Medical evidence found he had suffered fatal mixed drug toxicity.
A jury rejected Rowley’s claims that everything had been consensual and found him guilty of multiple counts of rape and administering substances with intent.
Rowley has now been jailed for 17 years.
Police said the case showed a disturbing disregard for the victim’s safety and wellbeing, while prosecutors described the offender’s actions as deeply exploitative.
The victim’s family said the loss has been devastating, and that the circumstances surrounding his death have caused them immense pain.
