A man has been jailed after ‘building trust’ with two women and encouraging them to go back to his address when they were intoxicated, claiming he would cook for them. Police say both women ‘felt vulnerable’, and had ‘felt they could trust’ Simon Charles, 46.
They had both told him that they did not want to have sex with him, but having fallen asleep they awoke to him sexually assaulting them. This was discovered after detectives investigating a rape recognised similarities in an account given by another victim from the year before.
Charles was jailed for 15 years when he appeared for sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, April 19. He previously appeared at the same court on March 13 where he was convicted of rape, attempted rape, two counts of sexual assault by penetration and voyeurism.
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Police say that a woman initially contacted police in May 2021 alleging that a man known to her had attempted to rape her. Specialist safeguarding officers contacted the woman while investigating officers carried out a number of initial enquiries including obtaining an early evidence kit in the case, and speaking to her about Clair’s Law disclosure requests, as she was ‘fearful of disclosing his name’.
Under the legislation, any person has the right to obtain information as to whether their partner or ex-partner has any previous history of violence or abuse.
However, the victim later decided she did not wish to take the case forward and it was discontinued. The Met says a second report was then received in November 2022, alleging that Charles had given cocaine and cannabis to a second victim before raping her at his home address.
A spokesperson for the Met said: “An investigation was launched and when officers conducted intelligence checks as part of their enquiries, they found a record of the original rape investigation which uncovered similarities between both victim accounts. An officer specially trained in investigating sexual offences contacted the first woman to explain that a review of her case was ongoing and they were determined to prosecute the man responsible.
“She agreed to support the investigation. She provided a video-recorded interview wherein she further disclosed the same man had taken intimate photos of her without her consent while she slept. These images were later sent to the victim, causing considerable distress.
“As part of the subsequent investigation, officers obtained a wealth of evidence including victim and witness statements, forensics, and evidence of messages sent between the parties.”
Charles was arrested on February 7, 2023, and subsequently bailed with ‘strict conditions’ ahead of the trial. Detectives presented an ‘extensive’ file to the CPS, which authorised the above charges on February 8, 2024. As well as his prison sentence, Charles was also issued with restraining orders not to contact the victims.
Detective Constable Stephanie Clarke, who led the investigation, said: “I am pleased with the sentence handed to Charles, which is testimony to the hard work of investigating officers and the bravery of these woman who have shown immense courage in supporting our investigation.
“We know victims are often reluctant to report these type of offences to police for various reasons. In this case, had it not been for the first victim making her report in 2021 we may have never reached this conviction today.
“I sincerely hope this case proves just how important it can be to come forward to police. We have specially trained officers and will do all we can to achieve a conviction regardless of the time that has passed.”
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