Police praise 'bravery' of victim as rapist jailed

Police have praised the bravery of a woman who was raped, after her attacker was jailed for more than nine years.

Liam Christopher Bassett, 28, of Barnes Close, Bournemouth, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday after being found guilty following a trial of two counts of rape, one count of assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm and two counts of controlling or coercive behaviour.

The jury at the trial heard evidence from the victim detailing how Bassett had been physically violent towards her and had forced himself upon her on more than one occasion when she had refused to have sex with him.

Bassett was sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison.

After the victim disclosed the abuse to police, officers continued to support her as detectives compiled evidence to secure charges against Bassett.

Det Con Rose Pratt, of BCP CID, said: "I do not for a moment underestimate the courage it took the victim in the case to firstly come forward and report the abuse she suffered at the hands of Liam Bassett, and then to support our investigation and the trial process.

"Thanks to her bravery and the evidence she gave, her attacker is now behind bars and I hope this will give other victims of rape and violence the strength to come forward in the knowledge that we will support them and hold perpetrators to account."