'Vile' rapist jailed for life for attempted murder

Benjamin Coates was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday

A man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 19 years after attempting to murder a woman he had subjected to a campaign of rape and abuse.

Benjamin Coates, 42, of Eagle Avenue, Waterlooville, was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court, on Friday.

The court heard he tried to kill the victim by repeatedly stamping on her head and face, and by dropping her out of a second storey window, which left her having to learn to walk again.

Elizabeth Medland, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said his "vile actions have had a tremendous impact on the victim's life".

"It's difficult to comprehend the unimaginable suffering this man has caused in his attempts to gain power over her," she said.

"Coates used every trick in the book to prevent his behaviour coming to court, including threats to kill the victim and her family. He is now in a place where he can no longer cause harm to them."

Ms Medland went on to say Coates' use of "emotional manipulation, physical control and sexual violence" against the victim was "utterly unacceptable".

Coates was found guilty at the same court on 8 July 2025 of attempted murder, five counts of rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, three counts threats to kill, intentional strangulation, and threatening to share intimate images.

When the victim was found by police in her home, her ribs had been broken for two weeks and she was covered by a blanket, unable to move.

It was then discovered that before this, she had been subjected to months of being physically and emotionally controlled, beaten, strangled and raped.

Coates then continued to contact her while he was in prison and told her to pay his debts off for him.

He also threatened her by saying that if she didn't, people would come to her house.