A husband in Cornwall, who repeatedly raped his wife over a decade, has been convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The victim endured monthly sexual assaults by her husband of 18 years between 2006 and 2017. During these attacks, he would often cover her mouth and nose, actions she described as leaving her "scared and disgusted" and fearing for her life.
The defendant claimed he was sleepwalking or suffering from sexsomnia during the assaults, stating he had no recollection of the events. However, a jury at Truro Crown Court rejected this defense, finding him guilty of five counts of rape, three counts of attempted rape, and one count of sexual abuse. The victim testified that she confided in a colleague and her sister, and kept a diary to document the abuse, enduring threats from her husband that she would "never see the kids again" if she left him. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.