Sean Reuben

A man from North Somerset has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of raping a woman in Clevedon. Sean Reuben, 49, of Lawrence Weston, was described by the court as a 'dangerous sexual predator' for his actions in November 2021.

The incident occurred at a house in Clevedon, where Reuben attacked the victim, who was in her 20s at the time. Police were called immediately after the rape, and officers from Avon and Somerset Police arrested Reuben the same night. He was later charged with the offence. Reuben denied the rape, but in May, a jury at Bristol Crown Court unanimously found him guilty following a trial.

Sentencing took place on 13 August at Bristol Crown Court, presided over by Judge Burgess. During the hearing, a powerful victim impact statement was read out, detailing the profound physical and mental effects of the crime. The victim described suffering from suicidal thoughts, self-harm, unhealthy relationships, nightmares, flashbacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She stated: 'This crime has deeply affected me physically and mentally. I faced suicidal thoughts, self-harm and unhealthy relationships, becoming someone I didn’t recognise. Even three-and-a-half years later, I still suffer from nightmares, flashbacks and fear.' She further explained the ongoing challenges: 'I have to learn to navigate my life with the disabling impact of PTSD. I have to learn to trust in those around me but not be as trusting as I once was. I have to build up my life again. I have to rebuild my career I was once thriving in. I have to pick up the pieces of a broken girl.'

The victim emphasised her determination to see the case through, not just for personal justice but to prevent others from suffering similarly: 'I didn’t carry on because I wanted justice for the pain and harm that was caused to me. I carried on because I didn’t want anyone else going through the pain of being betrayed and having their lives change forever.' Judge Burgess jailed Reuben for 10 years and ordered him to be added to the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

DC Damon Carney, the investigating officer from Avon and Somerset Police, commented on the case: 'Reuben is clearly a dangerous offender; someone who seized the opportunity to act out his sordid sexual desires and who has not expressed any remorse for what he did or even acknowledged what he did was wrong.' He praised the victim's courage and the support from witnesses, highlighting the importance of community vigilance. The case was reported by the North Somerset Times on 18 August, based on court proceedings at Bristol Crown Court.