Man Found Guilty of Rape After Victim Secretly Recorded Assault
A Kuwaiti national living in Taunton has been convicted of rape after a woman recorded him on her phone during an assault, a case described as unusual by police.
A man has been found guilty of rape after the victim secretly recorded him during the assault. Al-Shammari, a Kuwaiti national residing in Taunton, was convicted by a majority verdict and will be sentenced on November 27.
The jury heard that Al-Shammari had known the woman for a few weeks after meeting her on a night out. On the evening of the incident, he persuaded her to let him come to her home. After they had been drinking, he asked to stay the night, and she agreed to let him sleep on the sofa, making it clear they were just friends.
According to the court proceedings, Al-Shammari later went to the woman's room, and consensual sex began. However, the woman later told police she became increasingly uncomfortable and asked him to stop, but he did not.
The recording played to the jury included the woman saying "no" and "I don't like it." In his police interview, Al-Shammari denied rape, stating the woman had wanted to have sex, but he stopped because the positions they tried were painful for her.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police highlighted the rarity of such cases, noting that the recording provided key evidence. "Rape is a crime which often happens behind closed doors, leaving a jury to decide which of the two people is telling the truth," the spokesperson said. "This is an unusual case as the survivor provided key evidence by recording the attack."
Avon and Somerset Police reaffirmed their commitment to investigating sexual offense reports, supporting victims, and pursuing offenders. The police emphasized the importance of consent in sexual relationships, stating, "No means no, whether you've had consensual sex before or not. If you have any doubt about their consent, stop."