‘I have been raping you, sedating you and taking photographs of you for years’: UK woman’s husband confesses

A woman in the United Kingdom recalled her harrowing memories, alleging that her former husband had drugged, raped and took photographs when she was unconscious. In a report by the BBC, the woman said that her husband has been abusive and controlling in private. To hide the identity of the victim, the BBC gave her the name “Kate.”She told that one evening her husband had been drugging her tea at night with sleeping medication so he could rape her while she was unconscious and taking photographs of his assaults. Speechless and frozen by disbelief, Kate struggled to comprehend the enormity of his betrayal.For years, her husband had been abusive and controlling in private. His behavior was violent and he frequently misused prescription medications.Kate said there had been times when she woke up during non-consensual sexual acts, which her husband would later dismiss as unintentional, claiming he was asleep and unwell.Following his confession, he pleaded with Kate not to go to the police, fearing his life would be over. Initially, Kate remained silent, however, over the months, she became very ill and started having panic attacks.Kate said that nearly a year later, she confided in her sister, who immediately called their mother. Their mother then called the police, and her ex-husband was arrested and questioned. However, just four days later, she withdrew the case overwhelmed by grief. “I just wasn’t ready.”Six months later after her husband moved out of the house, Kate returned to the police.Kate told BBC that the detective explained to her that she was a survivor of a serious crime and empowered her to reclaim what had been taken. He clearly explained that what she had endured was rape.Her ex-husband’s medical records provided undeniable evidence. After his confession to Kate, he had privately consulted a psychiatrist, during which he admitted to “drugging his wife in order to have sex with her while she was asleep.”Despite this compelling evidence, the crown prosecution service (CPS) initially decided not to press charges. Determined, she applied for a formal review of the decision. Six months later, the CPS reversed its stance and said that her ex-husband will now be charged.The case finally went to court in 2022, five long years after his initial confession. Following a week-long trial, the jury found him found guilty of rape, sexual assault by penetration and administering a substance with intent. The sentencing judge described him as a “self-obsessed person” lacking genuine remorse and sentenced him to 11-years in prison, along with a lifelong restraining order.Kate could draw similarities between her and Gisèle Pelicot’s case, the French woman who was drugged and raped by her ex-husband, who also hired dozens of men to abuse her.