CORNWALL MAN JOSHUA BEST JAILED FOR RAPE AFTER TELLING VICTIM 'IT WILL BE OUR DIRTY LITTLE SECRET'
A man who raped a vulnerable woman told her it would be their "dirty little secret", a court heard.Joshua Best forced himself on the woman at an address in Cornwall in 2022.
The 31-year-old dad from Roslyn Close in St Austell was found guilty by a unanimous verdict at trial at Truro Crown Court in connection with the rape.
A sentencing hearing at the Crown court today (Friday, February 27) heard how Best took advantage of the woman in a vulnerable state, slightly inebriated.
He pulled her clothes down and forced himself onto her.
When his victim begged him not to do this, he held his hand on her mouth and it was then he told her it would be their "dirty little secret".
The court heard how his victim reported the incident to the police after confiding to a friend.
In a victim impact statement she said she had now left Cornwall and returned to where her family lives to be closer to her support network.
She said the attack has had a significant impact on her mental health leading to counselling and even a stay in a psychiatric hospital as a result.
She said she now finds it difficult to connect with people and has turned to "unhealthy coping mechanisms to try to push forwards and carry on as normal".
Best's victim said her "life has been on hold" until he eventually went on trial and was found guilty.
Ramsay Quaife, in mitigation for Best, said the incident had been out of character for Best.
He said that as a dad being in prison, losing contact with his children will be difficult for him and for them.
Mr Quaife said Best has a good work ethic and no previous sexual convictions, adding that he had already put his time on remand to a productive use.
His Honour Judge James Adkin said Best's victim had been forced to move away from Cornwall as a result of the attack and her mental health has spiralled.
He said his victim had been vulnerable when he took advantage of her.
Judge Adkin sentenced Best to seven and a half years in prison.
He will also be on the sex offenders' register for life.
