A couple from Salisbury, James Edward Owen and Ellen Rae, have been jailed for their roles in the grooming, sexual assault, and rape of an 18-year-old woman who was Owen's personal training client. The offences occurred between January and February 2021, culminating in a violent assault on 6 February 2021 at their home.
Owen, aged 55, first began assaulting the victim during physical training sessions at his home. He groped her, claiming it was necessary for specific exercises. However, text messages exchanged between Owen and Rae, aged 52, revealed their premeditated and sinister intentions. Owen expressed delight in the assaults, stating in one message, “I’ll be very respectable tomorrow to lull her into a false sense of security” before a session. Rae encouraged his actions, making comments about the victim's body and supporting his sexual intentions. This digital evidence, gathered by Wiltshire Police and prosecutors from CPS Wessex, led to charges of conspiracy to commit sexual assault against both defendants.
Following weeks of grooming, the couple invited the young woman to their home for a dinner themed as 'Valentine's' by Rae. Upon arrival, Owen presented her with a heart-shaped nipple piercing, insisting she try it on. As the evening progressed, the victim felt increasingly uncomfortable and tearfully called a friend from the bathroom to express her concerns. Before she could leave, the defendants coerced her into their hot tub, where Owen raped her and Rae sexually assaulted her.
The case proceeded to a nine-day trial at Winchester Crown Court. Owen was convicted of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and conspiracy to commit sexual assault. Rae was found guilty of sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault. Sentencing occurred today at Salisbury Crown Court, where Owen received eight years' imprisonment and Rae was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
Lisa Garcia, Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS Wessex in the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences unit, commented: “The actions of Owen and Rae were utterly abhorrent. While masquerading as a friendly couple with noble intentions, they worked together to systematically plan and execute the rape of a young woman who trusted them. This abuse of trust has caused indescribable damage and we worked rigorously with detectives to ensure they were not just convicted for the physical abuse, but for their sick planning and coercion. We hope their convictions send a clear message that the CPS is committed to prosecuting rape cases and that we will always strive to deliver justice for victims.”
The case was prosecuted by CPS Wessex in collaboration with Wiltshire Police, highlighting the importance of digital evidence in uncovering premeditated sexual offences.