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Customs officer jailed over rape | Customs officer jailed over rape |
(30 minutes later) | |
A former customs officer who kidnapped and repeatedly raped a woman in Kent has been jailed for 12 years. | A former customs officer who kidnapped and repeatedly raped a woman in Kent has been jailed for 12 years. |
Kelvin Bennett, 45, of Dart Street, Birmingham, was convicted at a previous hearing at Maidstone Crown Court. | Kelvin Bennett, 45, of Dart Street, Birmingham, was convicted at a previous hearing at Maidstone Crown Court. |
Jurors heard how he attacked his victim several times before dumping her in a remote country lane in December 2000. He was working at Dover at the time. | Jurors heard how he attacked his victim several times before dumping her in a remote country lane in December 2000. He was working at Dover at the time. |
Sentencing, Judge Philip Statman said: "This case illustrates every woman's worst fear." | Sentencing, Judge Philip Statman said: "This case illustrates every woman's worst fear." |
He told Bennett: "You showed her absolutely no mercy. You remain to this day in denial." | |
The court heard how the woman had been left suffering from depression, having to see a psychologist, and experiencing difficulty in carrying on with her life. Bennett carried out a brutal attack on a terrified and vulnerable woman Det Ch Insp David Withers | |
Judge Statman said: "I have seen the impact that your crime had upon her." | |
Bennett was arrested this year after police matched his DNA profile during an inquiry into a separate allegation against him. | Bennett was arrested this year after police matched his DNA profile during an inquiry into a separate allegation against him. |
The jury was told that the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was kidnapped as she returned to her mother's house from a night out in Folkestone. | The jury was told that the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was kidnapped as she returned to her mother's house from a night out in Folkestone. |
The victim, now 29 but aged 21 at the time of the attack, said he forced her into the back of his car and drove her to a number of remote locations where he raped her three times before letting her go. | |
'No empathy' | 'No empathy' |
After the hearing, Det Ch Insp David Withers said: "Bennett carried out a brutal attack on a terrified and vulnerable woman. | After the hearing, Det Ch Insp David Withers said: "Bennett carried out a brutal attack on a terrified and vulnerable woman. |
"He didn't show any empathy when she pleaded to be released saying her young son needed her. | "He didn't show any empathy when she pleaded to be released saying her young son needed her. |
"He showed his arrogance in court where, despite overwhelming evidence, he continued to deny the offence, forcing the victim to give full details of the offence in the witness box." | "He showed his arrogance in court where, despite overwhelming evidence, he continued to deny the offence, forcing the victim to give full details of the offence in the witness box." |
But he said the jail term would help "bring closure" for the victim, knowing that the person who raped her was "behind bars". | |
He added: "Like most criminals, Bennett became complacent and must have thought he had got away with it." | |
But he said latest DNA technology led to "his undoing". | But he said latest DNA technology led to "his undoing". |
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