A brave victim who secretly recorded a man as he sexually assaulted her at her home in Hythe has been instrumental in his conviction.
Christopher Key, 39, formerly of Westbourne Gardens in Folkestone, visited a woman he knew in April 2020 and subjected her to several days of abuse which included a vicious sexual assault. On one occasion he threw her to the ground and physically beat her with his fist leaving her with bruises.
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Key’s victim managed to record audio of the sexual assault on her mobile phone, which was later played in court as evidence. Despite initially denying the allegations he later pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court to sexual assault and actual bodily harm.
On Friday 8 December 2023, Key was sentenced to seven years and one month in prison for these offences. It was part of an overall 16-year jail sentence which also included a term for the rape of a boy on a train from Margate in March 2023, which was investigated by British Transport Police. Key will serve a further eight years on licence following the 16-year jail term.
Kent Police’s investigating officer, Detective Constable Nichola Shepherd, said:
‘Our victim was taken advantage of in the worst kind of way by Key. He abused her trust and made her feel unsafe in her own home. She was extremely brave to come forward and report this to us and the audio of the attack that was played in court shows what a depraved and dangerous individual he is.
‘I hope this sentence allows both of Key’s victims to come to terms with what happened to them and rest a little easier knowing he is behind bars where he can no longer pose a threat to society.’