Derek Rowley

Derek Rowley

46, Male Custodial - 17y 2026-03-05

Gillingham, Kent

Offender ID: 4233d879-624c-4c8a-9a3e-f6f9a97906d6

Offence Summary

Jailed for 17 years after drugging a man and repeatedly raping him while livestreaming the assault; the victim later died from mixed drug toxicity.

Full Description

Derek Rowley, 46, was sentenced to 17 years in prison at Maidstone Crown Court on 5 March 2026, after being found guilty of 11 counts of rape and one count of administering a substance with intent. The court heard that Rowley met his victim on Grindr and invited him to his home in Gillingham, Kent, in May 2024 for consensual sex and drugs, including GHB, crystal meth and ketamine. However, the encounter took "a very sinister turn" when Rowley began administering drugs to the victim at around 5.10pm, rendering him "completely limp and unresponsive".

Over the following hour and 20 minutes, Rowley repeatedly raped the unconscious man while livestreaming the attack to viewers on a laptop. Judge Robert Lazarus described Rowley's actions as appalling, stating: "Anybody with a sense of humanity would have called an ambulance as soon as (the victim) fell into a coma and not proceed to rape him repeatedly… You wanted to drug (the victim) to the extent of putting him into a coma and once you did that you wanted to rape him multiple times while livestreaming this." The judge added that whether the livestream was actually working was "neither here nor there".

The victim died at around 7.30pm from mixed drug toxicity. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Rowley had been found guilty following a trial in November 2025. In an impact statement read to the court, the victim's partner described him as "gentle, empathetic, he was one of the good guys" and said there was now a "massive gaping hole left in my heart". The partner added: "I feel broken and shattered by it all, I don't really sleep, still feel like I'm in survival mode and I'm stuck." Statements from the victim's family said the knowledge of his suffering was "unbearable and stays with us every day" and that his abuse was "entirely preventable".

Kent Police Detective Inspector Lee Neiles said after the sentencing: "This was a truly shocking and disturbing case. Rowley exploited the victim in the most appalling way, showing complete disregard for his welfare. Our thoughts remain with the victim's family during this incredibly difficult time who have shown tremendous dignity throughout the investigation and trial."

Location

City: Gillingham

County: Kent

Case Details

Police Force: Kent Police

Sentence Length: 17 years (Custodial)

Expected Release: July 2037
Guideline: two-thirds served for sentences ≥4 years; half otherwise (England & Wales). Estimates only.

Full Sentence End: March 2043
If served in full. Estimates only.

Name heritage (predicted origin)

Country: United Kingdom

Confidence: 90%

Special Thanks

A huge thank you to Kent Police for their tireless dedication in bringing this offender to justice. Your commitment and hard work truly help keep our communities safe, and we are deeply grateful.

Source: kentlive.news

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