Bradley Carman 24

Description

Two rape victims whose ordeal was filmed after their drinks were spiked had to wait more than five years to see their attacker brought to justice.

Delays in the legal system mean Bradley Carman has only now been jailed for the 2016 attack, in which he humiliated and degraded two unconscious women.

He had spiked their drinks before a friend filmed the attack, with the footage later being circulated.

Judge Mark Weekes jailed the 22-year-old for seven-and-a-half years at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday.

He told Carman he slipped chemicals or made drinks as strong as possible to render them unconscious.

They were given drinks that made them very unwell, he continued.

There was evidence from both (during your trial) that it was recorded by your friend, and while you might not be responsible for that, you were a willing and enthusiastic participant.

You chose to fight this trial on what I deemed to be the clearest and compelling evidence.

Carman argued during his trial in December that sexual contact with both women was consensual.

His lawyers argued the women falsely accused Carman after becoming shameful once a video of the ordeal began circulating.

Carmans barrister Kieran Brand told jurors the victims evidence was inconsistent and the pair behaved in a reckless, impulsive manner.

But jurors unanimously convicted Carman, who was 17 at the time of the attacks, of three counts of rape.

One victim told jurors she dipped in and out of consciousness while being attacked, as Carmans friend filmed and laughed.

We had one-and-a-half drinks and after that I dont remember what happened, she continued.

I remember coming to and Bradley was on top of me, I dont remember what (happened) in between.

I was really, really out of it. I wasnt in the right position, I didnt say no, I didnt say yes either. I couldnt do anything to stop it, I wasnt in the right position to say no.

Someone was filming it, I remember someone filming it, it was dark and he had his flash on, laughing.

Carmans second victim told how she was then attacked after falling unwell once shed finished her drink.

"I couldnt do anything to stop it, I wasnt in the right position to say no..."

(It started) getting really weird, we started to feel not necessarily paralytic, but it wasnt right, she said.

The court heard both girls reported the attacks months afterwards, claiming they may have been spiked.

But it would take more than five years before they would see justice owing to delays in the justice system, the court heard.

At the sentencing hearing, one of the victims told how she attempted to take her own life in her battle with the aftermath, often experiencing feelings of being alone and helpless.

I thought death was my only way out, she said.

Sometimes I get flashbacks and night terrors and wake up crying.

The other victim told how the attack stripped away her confidence, replacing it instead with anxiety and trust issues.

Carman, of Ince Road, was sentenced as a juvenile given his age at the time of the attacks.

He will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

No charges have been brought against his friend.