Man on 'fake drug' stabbed sleeping stranger to death, bit victim's girlfriend on cheek then attempted to 'molest' teenage girl

Ben Harvey, 22, says he took what he thought to be cocaine and doesn't remember what he did

Ben Harvey will serve a minimum sentence of 28 years in jail after he stabbed William Rudiak to death in his sleep before biting the victim's girlfriend on the cheek and attempting to take a teenage girl's pyjama shorts off while she slept on 11 June, 2018. (PA)

A man has been jailed for life after stabbing a “defenceless” stranger to death as he slept before biting the victim’s girlfriend on the cheek and attempting to “molest” a teenage girl.

A court heard how Ben Harvey entered Alexandra Taylor 's home in Andover, Hampshire, in the early hours of 11 June and murdered her boyfriend William Rudiak, 26, while he slept in bed.

The 22-year-old then bit Ms Taylor on the cheek, before driving to a nearby village and breaking into a cottage, where he attempted to remove the pyjama shorts of a teenage girl as she slept.

Prosecuting, June Hyland, said the former Royal Mail worker “certainly set out with an intention to attack someone if not kill them” and that there was evidence he intended to rape the girl in the second incident.

Harvey admitted during the trial that he “must be responsible” for the attacks – but claimed he had no memory of the incidents because he had taken a “fake drug”.

The defendant claimed to have drunk beer and smoked cannabis before taking a drug, which he thought had been cocaine but which caused him to experience different effects than he was used to.

His father, Raymond Harvey, contacted police after his son told him he thought he might have killed someone but had thought it was a dream.

Adam Feest QC, defending, told Winchester Crown Court: “Mr Harvey has accepted from the outset he was responsible for these awful circumstances. His difficulty has been that he has not been able to remember all the details.”

William Rudiak, 26, died after he was stabbed by Ben Harvey, 22, while he slept at his girlfriend's house in Andover, Hampshire, on 11 June, 2018. (PA)

Harvey, of Little London, near Andover, will serve a minimum of 28 years for the murder of Mr Rudiak, assault causing actual bodily harm against Alexandra Taylor, and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Sentencing Harvey, the judge, Mr Justice Pepperall, said the deceased was unknown to the defendant and added: “This was an entirely unprovoked murder.”

In a statement read to the court, Mr Rudiak’s father, Martyn Rudiak said that his son "was an ambitious, adventurous, thrill-seeking young man."

“We feel so distraught we couldn’t do anything to help William," he said. "We have been robbed of a wonderful son and brother.”

Ms Taylor told the court that she suffered “deep depression” and night terrors since her partner’s death.

She added: “I am unable to smile since William’s death. I light a candle in his memory but the light doesn’t come close to his smile and warmth.”

The teenage girl addressed the defendant in court and said: “You attacked me and I thought you were going to rape me, you ran off leaving me to face the consequences, one of which was not feeling safe in my own home.”