RAPIST JAILED FOR 13 YEARS
Marcus Bennett, aged 44, was brought to the attention of authorities on September 29 of the previous year after his victim reported receiving a series of threatening messages from him.During discussions with police, the victim revealed that Bennett had raped her three months earlier after deceiving his way into her home.
She also described two other occasions when he had sexually assaulted her while she was asleep.
Throughout his initial police interview, Bennett denied the allegations.
When asked whether a person could consent to sex while asleep, he initially responded that he didn’t know, then later stated they could not.
He admitted to being “vexed” if sex was refused and claimed not to have seen the victim at the time of the alleged incidents.
However, subsequent photographic evidence proved his statements about not seeing her to be false.
Bennett maintained his denials during a two-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court, which resulted in a guilty verdict on two counts of rape.
The jury learned that the victim had confided in her mother about the first incident sending her pictures of bruises but had been too afraid of Bennett to report it earlier.
He was acquitted of a third rape charge, and an additional charge under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 was left on file.
Bennett, residing on Radcliffe Road in Nottingham, was sentenced on May 19 to 13 years in prison.
He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register and issued a restraining order to prevent any further contact with the victim.
