Man jailed after drugging and raping woman

Lee Hampton left his victim with daily flashbacks and nightmares about the assaults

A man has been jailed for 24 years after he drugged and raped a woman over a three-year period.

Lee Hampton, 51, previously of Hollingbourne, Kent, was previously found guilty of seven counts of rape counts, four counts of assault by penetration and two counts of administering a drug with intent in a trial at Swindon Crown Court.

On November 13, at the same court, he was sentenced to 24 years in jail with a further six years extended licence period.

"You are dangerous, plain and simple," Judge Jason Taylor K.C said to Hampton ahead of sentencing. He told the court: "This was not just a campaign of rape, this was a campaign of perverse sexual behaviour as a whole."

Hampton committed the offences between January 2017 and October 2020 in Swindon.

He drugged the victim, in her thirties, against her will and also attempted to spike her food with sleeping pills.

The 51-year-old also shared videos and images of his assaults to other people.

Helen Easterbrook, prosecuting, read out a statement on behalf of the victim ahead of Hampton's sentencing. She said: "I cannot sleep properly due to flashbacks and nightmares. I keep replaying in my mind what he might have done to me while I was unconscious.

"It affects every single part of my life. Things I used to love I can no longer do, as they remind me of him.

"I wake up most nights shaking. I worry I will never be free of him."

Hampton was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court

Hampton, wearing a grey t-shirt, sat with his arms folded and looked down during the victim statement and sentencing.

Charley Pattison, defending, told the court there were concerns for the 51-year-old's mental health and described "instability" he experienced since childhood. She added her client had been baptised at HMP Bullingdon since he came into custody in July.

Ms Pattison added: "He has a long time to serve in prison and he's already started trying to do courses and rehabilitate himself."

Judge Taylor, who said he gave the possibility of a life sentence "careful consideration", disputed the suggestion Hampton felt remorse and described him as "callous."

He told the court: "You are still primarily thinking about yourself. Regret is a better word. You regret at having been convicted and the consequences which flow from that."

He added: "You have normalised extremely perverse sexual behaviour which objectifies women and reduces them to sexual pawns."