'Abusive and controlling' rapist jailed after victims' families witnessed 'red flag behaviour'
A 'controlling and abusive' man who raped two women 'more than once' has been jailed for 14 years. Ben Smith, from Chester, was found guilty of seven counts of rape and two counts of coercive and controlling behaviour, Cheshire Police said.
Smith, of Sydney Road, Chester, appeared at Chester Crown Court on 28 April to be sentenced. As well as the 14 years in prison, he was handed restraining orders to protect his victims and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order.Cheshire Police said the offences occurred between January and December 2018. Both women reported that Smith raped them more than once and was controlling and coercive, police said.
"Family and friends of each of the victims were also becoming concerned with the behaviour of Smith and had on occasion witnessed red flag behaviour. Police were called when the rapes were disclosed and we have supported the two women and their families from that moment on to make sure they felt enabled to get justice despite the distress they were feeling and had gone through at the hands of Smith.
A statement from Cheshire Police added: "Cheshire Constabulary takes any allegation of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.
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