DJ guilty of rape at convention (From Bournemouth Echo)

DJ guilty of rape at convention

11:30am Tuesday 9th March 2010 in

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A “LOYAL” wife wept as her husband was jailed for six years for rape.

Clinton Knight’s wife Jo blew a kiss to the convicted sex offender as he was led away and said: “See you on Monday.”

Earlier Bournemouth Crown Court heard how the mother-of-two was “loyally and lovingly” standing by Knight, a DJ from Hillberry, Reading.

While his sobbing wife struggled to contain her emotions and sat with her head bowed during much of the hearing, 36-year-old Knight kept his composure.

Following an eight-day trial he was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another at a Bournemouth town- centre hotel in June last year.

Jurors heard how both women had been sexually abused during an impromptu party following a DJs’ convention at a Bournemouth nightclub.

After targeting one drowsy woman, who spurned his advances, alcohol-fuelled Knight went into another room and raped his second victim as she slept.

The women, who are in their late 20s and live locally, cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The court was told how the rape victim had woken in terror to find Knight sexually abusing her and raised the alarm.

Days later Knight handed himself in at a Thames Valley police station. Both of his victims gave their evidence from behind screens.

Throughout the trial Knight insisted that he had not been responsible for either sex attack and that someone else was to blame.

In his defence, the court heard that he still protested his innocence while his wife and family continued to offer their support.

Sentencing Knight, Judge John Harrow told him: “These were very serious offences when you were fuelled by drink and, no doubt, the excitement of the evening. Everything got the better of you.

“You took advantage of two young woman; one partially asleep and the other fully asleep. After trying it on with the first, she stopped you. But you persisted and left her, moving to the other girl and raping her while she was asleep. They were virtual strangers to you and there were other people around.”

DC Lynette Gibbs said both women had been traumatised by having to relive their ordeals in court.

She added: “It was a very emotional experience for them and they broke down several times. They are now trying to rebuild their lives and want closure.”