Judge blasts men who see rape as ‘just lad’s banter’
A JUDGE has condemned men who view rape as laddish behaviour and banter after she jailed a shop manager who had sex with a sleeping woman in a sick prank.
Judge Hilary Manley hit out at Daniel Dennis after hearing how he had raped his victim simply to “get one over” on a friend who had just slept with her in a rented apartment.
Dennis, 27, from Wolverhampton, had sneaked into the room while the 23-year old woman was with his friend Craig Flash and then hid behind a curtain before locking him in the bathroom when he went to the toilet.
Although Flash was allowed back out, Dennis then waited for him to fall asleep before raping the woman as she slept next to him.
Judge Manley said: “It’s sometimes said by men who behave like you and your friends did that night, that it’s just banter and being lads together, but it reflects a deeper and more worrying attitude towards women.”
Screamed
The victim, who met the men in a bar for a pre-arranged night out, woke up to find Dennis having intercourse with her.
She screamed at him to get off of her before fleeing the apartment, the court heard.
Dennis, who worked at high street store Primark, later claimed he was simply getting back at Flash who had stopped him having sex with a different woman on a previous occasion by walking in on them.
He denied rape at Manchester Crown Court but was convicted and jailed for six years.
The court was told the rape happened in September 2014 when Dennis was in Manchester for a friend’s 25th birthday party.
Sentencing the man Judge Manley told him: “You and friends came to Manchester that night and acted in a way that was shameful. You displayed a blatant disregard for women with little regards for their feelings.
“The fact you engaged in behaviour to disturb your friend in his private business with this woman.”
“You specifically targeted her whether due to your need for sex or to get one over on your friend.
“It must have been a traumatic, frightening and embarrassing experience for her.”
She added: “You then tried to front it out by claiming she welcomed you to have sexual intercourse with her.
“She no longer feels safe, she feels vulnerable and suffers mood swings. It was clear in the trial that this victim still suffers.
“This happened while she slept in bed next to the man she hoped would protect her.”