A man in his 40s has pleaded guilty to 32 sexual offences committed against his girlfriend over a period of more than 10 years, with prosecutors alleging many of the attacks took place while she was asleep or had been drugged.
The defendant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, admitted the offences during a hearing at Northampton Crown Court.
The offences, committed between January 2014 and September 2025, include 12 counts of rape, 14 counts of assault by penetration and six counts of sexual assault.
The court heard that several of the offences involved another unidentified individual. Four rape charges, four assault by penetration charges and two sexual assault charges were alleged to have been committed together with “a person unknown”.
Prosecutors also told the court that some of the alleged assaults had been recorded.
During the hearing, the defendant became visibly emotional and briefly asked the judge for a moment before lowering his head and remaining silent in the dock.
Prosecutor Alexandra Felix KC said the prosecution’s case is that the victim was drugged and rendered incapable of resisting during the offences.
“The prosecution maintains all of these offences were committed whilst the victim had been drugged and stupefied,” she said.
However, defence counsel Nathalie Carter said the prosecution’s assertion that the victim had been drugged on every occasion was disputed, although the defendant had chosen not to challenge the charges.
“He made it clear to me from the beginning he didn’t want to contest any matters,” Carter told the court.
Judge David Herbert KC warned the defendant that a lengthy custodial sentence was unavoidable.
“A very substantial prison sentence is inevitable,” the judge said, adding that the court would also consider whether a life sentence would be appropriate.
The defendant is due to be sentenced on Sept 18.
