A woman in England has come forward, recounting how her husband admitted to drugging and sexually assaulting her over a period of years. Going by the pseudonym “Kate,” she shared her story on the BBC’s investigative documentary series, File on 4.
Kate revealed that her ex-partner would drug her tea with sleeping medication at night before abusing her while she slept. The shocking confession from her former husband included chilling statements like, “I have been raping you. I’ve been sedating you and taking photographs of you for years.”
The case echoes a similar one involving French woman Gisèle Pelicot, whose ex-husband was convicted in a mass rape trial that drew global attention. Kate’s ordeal led her to experience severe panic attacks and a sharp decline in her health and well-being following her husband’s revelations.
Initially hesitant to speak out, Kate eventually sought help from her sister after almost a year. With the support of her family, she reached out to the Devon and Cornwall Police, leading to her husband’s arrest and subsequent questioning. Despite initially dropping the charges for the sake of their children, Kate later resumed the legal process with the assistance of Detective Constable Mike Smith.
Through Smith’s guidance, Kate came to terms with the reality of the abuse she had endured, leading to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a neurological disorder. She recounted instances of waking up to find her husband engaging in non-consensual sexual acts with her, describing him as controlling, abusive, and having misused prescription medication.
Despite her husband’s admission to drugging her for sexual purposes, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) initially chose not to press charges. However, following Kate’s request for a formal review, the CPS reversed its decision and announced that charges would be brought against her ex-husband.
Kate expressed gratitude for Detective Constable Smith, who helped her reclaim her strength and realize the severity of the crimes committed against her. Her courage in speaking out serves as a testament to the resilience of survivors of abuse.
“An appeal scheme is in place to allow victims to challenge decisions they believe to be incorrect,” a CPS spokesperson informed PEOPLE in a statement regarding the 2022 court case. “While we strive to make accurate charging decisions, we acknowledge that errors can occur. We apologize to the victim for any distress caused in this instance.” The spokesperson continued, “After reviewing our initial decision, additional evidence from the police led to the successful prosecution of the suspect, resulting in a jail sentence and a lifelong restraining order.”
Kate’s husband received an 11-year prison sentence and a lifelong restraining order after being convicted of rape, sexual assault, and administering a substance with intent. The case, which came to trial five years after Kate’s husband disclosed the abuse to her, involved disturbing claims made by the suspect, who alleged that Kate had a sexual fantasy involving being tied up. Officer Smith, who had previously investigated the case, dismissed these claims as “preposterous.”
Kate shared, “Abuse often occurs more discreetly than one might imagine. I am still coming to terms with what happened to me and its impact on me.” For support related to sexual assault, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org. Keep up to date with crime news by signing up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter.
