Bravery of rape victim helps bring attacker to justice
Detectives have praised the bravery displayed by a rape victim as her evidence helped to bring her attacker to justice.
Liam Christopher Bassett, aged 28 and of Bournemouth, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday 25 June 2026 after being found guilty following a trial of two charges of rape, assault by beating and two further offences.
The jury at the trial heard evidence from the victim, who was known to the defendant, detailing how Bassett had been physically violent towards her, including punching her in the face, and had also forced himself upon her on more than one occasion when she had refused to have sex with him.
After the victim disclosed the abuse to police, officers continued to support her as detectives compiled evidence to subsequently secure charges against Bassett.
At the sentencing hearing, Bassett - a British national who defines himself as being of white British ethnicity - was jailed for nine years and nine months in prison.
Detective Constable 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.”
If you have been a victim of rape or sexual assault, and you want to report directly to the police, please call 101 and ask to be put in contact with a specially trained police officer. Always dial 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, you can contact The Shores Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0800 970 9954.
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