Rapist offered to help unwell man before walking him to alley and sexually assaulting him

A rapist who offered to help an unwell man before sexually assaulting him in an alley has been convicted.

Luke Bennett, 28, approached the victim, in his early 20s, following a night out on 9 August last year.

He walked the man to an alleyway off Baddow Road, Chelmsford, Essex, and raped and sexually assaulted him.

Bennet then called for an ambulance and waited with the victim but left when the paramedics arrived.

He was arrested nearby a few hours later.

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Bennett, of Townsend, Chelmsford, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday following a trial.

He is due to be sentenced at the same court on 25 July.

Detective Constable Ann-Marie Aubynn, who led the investigation, said: “Rape is often the use of power by one person against another.

“The victim in this case has been strong throughout the investigation and seen it through to today, when Bennett was convicted and I want to praise his determination and courage to aid justice being done.

“We support all victims of sexual assault or rape and would encourage anyone who has been sexually assaulted to have the courage to come forward and report to us and we will support you too.”

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Police forces in England and Wales recorded the highest number of rapes and sexual offences in a 12-month period in the year to September.

Meanwhile, the proportion of suspects being taken to court has fallen to a new record low and remains the lowest for rape cases.

A report by MPs earlier this year concluded that survivors of rape are "being failed by our criminal justice system".

The Commons home affairs committee warned the “unacceptably low” numbers of suspects being taken to court for rape and sexual offences would continue “without stronger reforms” to the criminal justice system and they “will require significant funding to make an impact”.