Rape with handcuffs in Waremme: 56-year-old man sentenced to three years in prison
A 56-year-old resident of Waremme has been sentenced to three years in prison, one of which is custodial, for raping a 45-year-old woman on 7 January 2023.
Convicted of rape and false imprisonment after losing handcuff keys
A 56-year-old man living in Waremme was sentenced to three years in prison, one year of which is custodial and two years conditional with probation, for the rape of a 45-year-old woman that occurred on 7 January 2023, according to DHnet.
The victim had spent the night at the defendant's home in Bleret. After consuming cocaine together, the man handcuffed her behind her back, undressed her and sexually assaulted her, forcing her to perform various sexual acts and placing pieces of kitchen roll in her mouth to gag her.
Alert from a shoe repairer
A few minutes before police intervention, officers were dispatched to Avenue Reine Astrid in Waremme following a call from a shoe repairer. He reported that a man and a woman had presented themselves at his workshop to have handcuffs removed. When he refused, the man became threatening before leaving the premises.
The day after the incident, the couple went to a hardware store, where the attacker cut the handcuff chain using pliers. Analysis of the store's surveillance camera images shows the two individuals entering together, the victim still handcuffed behind her back. The man then dropped her off near her home.
The defendant's account
The defendant flatly denied striking the victim and claimed not to remember such events. He contended that the woman, in a state of great agitation after consuming narcotics, was scratching her ear until she hurt herself, and that he had put the handcuffs on her to prevent her from doing so.
He also claimed that she had confided in him about insecurities relating to her intimate anatomy, and that he had merely parted her legs to visually verify her claims, without noticing any resistance on her part. He added that he had perceived a relaxed atmosphere before beginning caresses, specifying that she was not struggling despite the handcuffs.
As for the gagging, he explained that he had placed pieces of kitchen roll in the victim's mouth so that he could prepare a dose of cocaine in peace, as she was screaming. He insisted that he had no intention of harming her.
Incriminating images found on his phone
Analysis of his mobile phone revealed photographs of the victim naked and handcuffed, as well as images of her genital area. These elements helped to establish the facts as described by the complainant.
The court rejected the defendant's account and found him guilty of rape and false imprisonment, sentencing him to three years, one year of which is custodial.
Source: DHnet