James Carnegie

A former engineer in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, James Carnegie, has been sentenced to six years in prison for committing rape and sexual assault against a woman aboard a ship in international waters. The incidents occurred in 2021 while Carnegie, aged 33 and from Leeds, was working on the vessel. The case was investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police as the ship returned to Cornwall.

According to court proceedings at Truro Crown Court, the victim reported that Carnegie first sexually assaulted her before later raping her, physically forcing himself upon her despite her explicit lack of consent. Carnegie denied the allegations, claiming to police that their interactions were consensual. However, a jury found him guilty on all charges following a trial.

The sentencing took place on 27 October 2023, with Carnegie also being placed on the sex offenders register for life. Detective Sergeant Nick Williams of Devon and Cornwall Police commended the victim's courage in reporting the crime, stating: “First and foremost I would like to thank the victim for coming forward and reporting this horrendous crime, so that we could investigate and bring the offender to justice. I hope that the sentence given by the judge will help to bring some level of closure and also serve as reassurance to other victims of sexual offences that we fully and thoroughly investigate reports and take action.” This case underscores the commitment of authorities to addressing sexual offences, even those occurring in challenging jurisdictions like international waters.