MAN JAILED FOR RAPING STUDENT DURING ROUGH SEX
A man has been convicted and sentenced to prison for the rape of a woman during an event that initially seemed to be consensual.Joe Annette-Norman, aged 26, was invited to the victim’s student accommodation in Plymouth.
During their encounter in March 2019, he persisted with sexual acts despite her clear requests for him to stop.
Annette-Norman, who was originally from East Sussex but was residing in Plymouth at the time, appeared before Truro Crown Court for sentencing.
He was found guilty after a trial of committing two counts of rape.
The judge, Robert Linford, highlighted that the case had been delayed for three and a half years, calling the delay unacceptable for both parties involved.
He sentenced Annette-Norman to four years in custody, with a deduction of one day for legislative reasons.
Prosecutor Simon Burns reported that Annette-Norman had grabbed the victim by the throat and forced her mouth open during the assault.
Although the initial interaction was consensual, Annette-Norman continued with sexual activity despite her pleas for him to stop.
The victim’s statement indicated that the incident had a lasting impact on her, affecting her university attendance and leading to depression and anxiety.
Defense lawyer Emily Pitts stated that the encounter was initially consensual and that Annette-Norman had tried to honor her boundaries, expressing remorse over the events.
The judge noted that Annette-Norman had no previous criminal record and was well regarded before the incident.
Messages exchanged before the event were described as increasingly sexualized.
CCTV footage showed the pair engaging in kissing and touching in the foyer, with the victim asserting that their purpose was to have sexual activity.
The court emphasized that the activity started consensually but did not end when she asked him to stop.
The lengthy delay in delivering justice was criticized, and Annette-Norman’s sentence was four years minus one day in prison.
