A man from Chesterfield has been jailed for over 10 years for three counts of rape and false imprisonment of a woman in Manchester in June 2022.
His victim who suspected her drink had been spiked and was separated from friends was targeted and repeatedly assaulted by a stranger.
Benjamin Wilson (03/08/1990) of Norwood Avenue, Chesterfield, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison after being found guilty of offences committed in Manchester city centre in June 2022.
Detectives carried out a sensitive, victim-led investigation after Wilson exploited an extremely vulnerable and intoxicated victim.
The victim plucked up the courage to go on a night out with friends in Manchester, however, she became separated from them and was later subjected to a serious sexual assault, linked to a suspected drink spiking.
During the evening, the victim and her friend believed their drinks had been tampered with. She later found herself alone, heavily intoxicated, and extremely vulnerable. She encountered Wilson near a takeaway, where he took advantage of the situation, guiding her into a taxi before repeatedly raping her at a flat in Manchester.
The following morning, Wilson dropped her near the hotel where she had been due to stay with her friend. She reported the incident shortly afterwards.
Due to the trauma she experienced and previous medical PTSD, officers worked closely with the victim’s parents and a trusted colleague to support the investigation and help identify, locate, arrest, and charge the offender.
From the outset, investigators faced significant challenges, including limited early forensic opportunities, issues securing CCTV footage and the need to prioritise the victim’s wellbeing.
Hundreds of hours of work went into analysing witness accounts, financial and phone data, intelligence checks, and overcoming cross-force barriers to make an arrest in Derbyshire.
Officers progressed the case carefully to avoid causing further trauma, using digital evidence, including phone data and social media, to establish key links and identify the suspect.
The case was ultimately built through meticulous investigation, persistence, and, crucially, the strength and courage of the victim’s testimony.
DC Phillip Sargeant of Longsight CID said: “I am awestruck not only by the courage of the victim in coming forward, but also by her patience and resilience in waiting for justice.
“The impact on her, her family and her support network has been profound. I hope today’s sentence provides some measure of closure and enables them to move on from this traumatic experience.
“We have worked hard to support her throughout, allowing her to guide the pace of the investigation and how she engaged with the process.
“I hope this case reassures others that they will be taken seriously and supported sensitively by Greater Manchester Police, no matter how long it takes.”