David Buckle 36

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A Derbyshire dad-of-two filmed himself raping a woman as she slept. A trial at Derby Crown Court heard how the victim only realised what David Buckle did when she was told at a later date by the police.

Her 35-year-old attacker denied what he recorded doing was rape meaning she had to relive her ordeal giving evidence at a four-day trial. And in a victim impact statement, the woman said she now feels “worthless and empty”.

Jailing the defendant for eight and a half years, Judge Shaun Smith KC said: “Two things are patently obvious in this case, one of which is that whatever you did you did not have her consent because she was asleep. She was absolutely unconscious and one only had to watch the video to see that and that is why the jury was so quick coming back (with a guilty verdict).

“It was a completely emotionless piece of dreadful and humiliating criminal activity, there is no doubt about that, and she had absolutely no idea about it. She said to the jury (giving her evidence) ‘when the police told me he had filmed me I was humiliated’.

“It was abuse and degradation of another person, a complete piece of unemotional sexual behaviour on your part. It was almost methodical. This will be your first custodial sentence and you will get no credit because there was no guilty plea.”

The trial heard how the rape took place at an address in Derbyshire a number of years ago. The jury was told that the victim went to the police and told them she believed she had been raped by the defendant as she slept and an investigation was launched.

During it, footage of the sex attack was discovered and he was arrested and charged. He denied the charge of rape but pleaded guilty to a second charge of voyeurism.

In her victim impact statement, the woman said: “The whole experience has had a devastating impact on my life and I am in a cycle of mental torture. I was taken advantage of in a vulnerable situation and this will stay with me forever. I feel worthless and empty and I don’t feel he has any remorse about what he did. I do not think my life will ever be the same again.”

Will Bennett, mitigating, said: “He has two children who will not see him (while he is behind bars) and that will be extremely difficult for him. There is an obvious sense of shame. There are four members of the family in the public gallery and he will not be able to see them (either).”

Buckle, of Weaving Avenue, Castleton, In the Peak District, will serve two thirds of his custodial sentence behind bars before being released on licence. He will also be on the sex offender register for life.