Jersey restaurateur jailed after rape conviction

Gavin Neil Roberts has been jailed for 15 years after he was found guilty of rape and a series of sexual offences

A former Jersey restaurant owner has been jailed for 15 years after attacking one woman and raping, attacking and sexually assaulting another.

Gavin Neil Roberts, 45, who co-owned the now-closed Shinzo in St Aubin, appeared at the island's Royal Court for sentencing.

After an hour-and-a-half of consideration, Jurats sentenced Roberts for 11 different offences - rape, two of sexual penetration without consent, five of common or grave and criminal assault and three of voyeurism - that had taken place between 2018 and 2022.

Roberts clapped sarcastically when the verdict was announced.

'You can speak up'

One of the victims, who has waived her right to anonymity, told the court she had been in and out of hospital for physical and psychological injuries caused by Roberts who raped and strangled her.

Suzie Mahe, who was in a relationship with Roberts at the time of the incidents, said: "I am grateful to all of those who have been involved in this case, I want to take a stance and show that we can be united and stand against domestic abuse.

"Today, I was able to stand up in court and read my own victim impact statement and it was such a privilege, this was my way to use my voice and stay strong in front of my abuser.

"I want my voice to show others that you can reach out and speak up, and your voice will be heard and listened to."

Ms Mahe said she wanted to "show that we can be united and stand against domestic abuse"

Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit read out a statement from the other victim, a woman Roberts had assaulted on two separate occasions.

In the statement, she said she felt she was a confident and independent woman before she met Roberts.

It continued: "I now feel like all of this has been taken away from me and I'm not sure what my future will look like."

Roberts was arrested on 30 October, 2022 after police received reports that he had assaulted and raped a woman in St Helier.

Det Insp Aiden Quenault paid tribute to the victims of Roberts' attacks

Ms Mahe told police that on 2 October, 2022, in Bath Street, Roberts had assaulted her by pushing her against a doorway and grabbing her by the neck.

On or around 15 October, 2022, while abroad, Roberts had then raped her using an object for penetration.

The incident left her with significant facial injuries and body bruising.

A second woman then came forward to report two separate assaults between February and September 2022.

The three voyeurism charges referred to his filming of a third woman while they were having sex.

The court concluded that he had completed the acts all without consent and without reasonable belief that consent had been given.

Det Insp Aiden Quenault said: "I would like to take time to recognise the strength and thank those women for their strength in coming forward and supporting us through the prosecution and the investigation."

He added: "I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of domestic abuse or sexual violence to reach out to the police or the many agencies available."

Sentencing guidelines

Mr Maletroit asked the court to consider a "new way" of sentencing rape in Jersey.

He said there had never been any local sentencing guidelines in relation to sexual offences which had led to inconsistency in previous verdicts.

Mr Maletroit called on the court to use this sentencing as a chance to create its own guidelines on rape, where there is a not guilty plea and a contested trial.

He recommended a guideline with a starting point of five to six years imprisonment, rising in increments to a maximum sentence of 15 years for "exceptionally bad" cases where there is "extreme harm" to the victim.

Kate Wright, CEO of Free from Domestic Abuse (Freeda) and chair of the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce, said: "I hope that this heralds the introduction of new sentencing guidelines that will show women and girls in Jersey especially that they can have trust in our courts and they can achieve the justice they so deserve.

"What will stay with me most today though is witnessing the incredible bravery of one of the victims who read her own victim statement in court."