Case No. Case-No.-LV21P00249

3.In 2004, the father received 10 sentences of life imprisonment in respect of seven offences of rape, one offence of kidnapping, one offence of attempted kidnapping, one offence of false imprisonment. All offences were committed on a previous partner who was 17 at the time. He was required to serve a minimum of 11 years. He was released in 2015 on licence. Within a few months, he had formed a relationship with the mother and also a second woman who will be referred to as E. He met the mother on a dating site and E at a nightclub. Initially, the mother moved into the father’s flat in (redacted). She then moved to (redacted), and the father appears to have split his time between (redacted) and (redacted). He began his relationship with E a few months after the relationship with the mother. The father moved in with her. Both the mother and E complained of significant systematic sexual violence and multiple rapes during their relationship with the father, and eventually made complaints to the police. The mother was interviewed by police on 23 January 2018. The police charged the father with 31 separate offences for which the father was convicted after trial. In 2019, the father received 24 life sentences in respect of 24 counts of rape and separate concurrent sentences of imprisonment for two counts of engaging in controlling, coercive behaviour, 30 months each, two counts of false imprisonment, three years each and two counts of threats to kill, four years each.4.In his sentencing remarks, HHJ ‘Z’ said this:“Nobody should think that after the lapse of this remission, you are going to be, in any way, eligible for parole because the Parole Board will have to look very carefully at my remarks and the seriousness of these offences. All it means is that you can, after the requisite period, apply for parole. The sentence that I have decided on the minimum term will, therefore, be 14 years on each count, concurrent, so on all the counts of rape, there will be life sentences, with a minimum period to serve 14 years before you can apply for parole”.At his sentencing hearing, the mother addressed the father directly, and said this:“From the moment we met, you had intentions of abusing and degrading me anywhere you could. I suffered countless monstrous acts at your hands. You’ve pushed me to the depths of despair I’d never imagined, to the point of no longer valuing my life. You went out of your way to break me for no other reason than your own gratification, never showing remorse or mercy for the terror you inflicted and causing more suffering by forcing us through the trauma of a trial rather than taking responsibility for your actions. My life will never the be same; relationships with friends and family lost and tarnished, forced to bring my son out of hospital into a refuge with only a handful of belongings, suffering anxiety and depression. I am unable to build relationships as I no longer trust my own judgment. You are not just my abuser, you are my child’s father, and for our son, I am thankful. He gave me the strength, courage and purpose I lacked. He saved my life. This will never be over for me, not just because of the scars you’ve left me with but because of your actions. I am left to someday, somehow, explain things to our son. I remain hopeful that you do have the humanity to understand what you’ve done and how this has impacted on many people. It hasn’t been easy, but I forgive you for all that you have done for mine and my son’s sake. I hope you get the help you need”.