A POLICE officer has praised the courage of a rape victim who helped bring her violent attacker to justice.

Lee Hogben was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday after being found guilty of rape and two counts of sexual assault following a three-week trial. As reported yesterday, Hogben, 35, raped a woman at a Bournemouth town centre hotel despite his victim making it very clear she was not consenting. He also sexually assaulted her.

The victim described the defendant’s behaviour as erratic and volatile and said she was in fear for her safety.

Detective Inspector Kate Lill, representing the Serious Sexual Offences Team, said following Hogben's sentencing: “Lee Hogben is a dangerous offender who raped and sexually assaulted his frightened victim.

“I want to praise her and all the witnesses in this case for their courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation.

“We will always take reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, regardless of someone’s background or circumstances, and have a specialist team of officers who will investigate cases and ensure victims are fully supported.

“We acknowledge that not everyone will want to report a matter directly to police. The Shores is the sexual assault referral centre for Dorset and its expert staff are independent of the police.

“If you have been subject of a sexual offence and are not sure if you want the police to be involved, then you can call or visit The Shores to talk about what happened. The Shores can be contacted on 01202 552056 and more details about their facilities can be found on their website www.the-shores.org.uk.”