Nottingham Man Marcus Bennett Jailed for Thirteen Years Following Rape Convictions

A 44-year-old man has been jailed for 13 years at Nottingham Crown Court after being found guilty of two counts of rape.

Marcus Bennett, of Radcliffe Road, Nottingham, was sentenced following a two-week criminal trial in connection with attacks committed last year.

The court heard that the defendant tricked his way into the victim's residential property in June before subjecting her to a sexual assault.

The victim, who is granted anonymity under automatic legal reporting restrictions, also disclosed two subsequent incidents where Bennett raped her while she was asleep.

The jury was told that the victim initially confided in her mother regarding the first offence, transmitting photographic evidence of physical bruising, but felt too intimidated by the defendant to alert authorities at that stage.

Read more: Manchester Airport Retrial: Jury Failed to Reach Verdict

The matter was formally brought to the attention of Nottinghamshire Police on 29 September last year, after the victim reported receiving a series of threatening communications from the defendant.

During his initial police interviews, Bennett denied all allegations and asserted to investigators that he became "vexed" whenever he was denied sexual access.

When questioned by detectives regarding whether an individual has the capacity to consent to sexual activity while asleep, the defendant initially claimed he did not know, before later conceding that a person could not consent.

The defendant further claimed to police that he had not seen the victim during the time frames of the alleged offences.

Read more: Bhekisani Matabiswana: Sentenced to Life for Fatal Assault in Bacup

The prosecution successfully dismantled this claim by presenting photographic evidence that definitively placed him in contact with the victim at the material times.

Following deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts on two counts of rape, while clearing the defendant of a third count of rape.

An additional criminal charge brought under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 was ordered by the judge to lie on file.

The court passed a total custodial sentence of 13 years and ordered that Bennett be placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Read more: Rupert Lowe Loses High Court Watchdog Bid

The judge also granted a restraining order strictly prohibiting the defendant from maintaining any future direct or indirect contact with the victim.

Following the formal conclusion of the case, Detective Constable Abigail Dorricott of Nottinghamshire Police praised the victim's courage in coming forward, emphasizing that all reports of serious sexual offences are treated with absolute seriousness by the force.