Man who removed condom during intercourse with sex worker jailed for rape

Lee Hogben threatened to shoot judge after he was handed 12-year prison sentence

Police custody image of Lee Hogben (DorsetPolice/BNPS)

A man who removed his condom during intercourse with a sex worker that was initially consensual has been jailed for 12 years after he was found guilty of raping her.

Lee Hogben, 35, ignored his female victim’s repeated pleas to stop during the session in a Bournemouth hotel room.

The woman reported Hogben to the police after he “broke the agreed terms of consent”, leading to his arrest on suspicion of rape the following day.

Hogben threatened to shoot the sentencing judge in an outburst at the end of his three-week trial after being found guilty of rape and two counts of sexual assault.

Appearing via video link at Bournemouth Crown Court in Dorset, he told Judge Stephen Climie: “I’m coming for you. You’ll get a shotgun in the face at night.”

The court heard how the victim advertised her services on a sex work website and had specifically indicated online that all her clients must use protection.

Hogben met her at the Royal Bath Hotel in his home town of Bournemouth on 19 January, having agreed a price in advance for two hours of her services.

Prosecutor Jodie Mittell said the sex worker claimed Hogben had threatened her with violence when she resisted him after he removed the condom.

She said: “Hogben went beyond what was consented to by removing the protection, which the complainant will say was a condition of intercourse.

“She repeatedly protested, “I don’t do that – please, no”. She tried to wriggle away but he told her to stop. He told her he had beaten people up and robbed people.”

Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth, where attack took place (Lewis Clarke / Creative Commons)

Afterwards Hogben left without paying the woman, despite spending two hours in her company.

Ms Mittell read aloud a victim impact statement from the victim. In it she said she has considered self-harm as a result of what had happened to her.

Nick Robinson, defending, said the offences occurred when Hogben was in a “heightened emotional state”.

The defendant suffered years of sexual abuse while in care, the court heard. Mr Robinson said: “His coping mechanism is driving, violence, abuse and talking to people the way he talks about himself and to himself.”

Hogben was sentenced to 12 years in prison as well as an extended licence period of six years, making the total sentence 18 years. He was also sentenced to indefinite restraining orders and a sexual harm prevention order.

A known offender with dozens of previous convictions for harassment and driving offences, Hogben pleaded guilty to threatening to destroy property, disclosing private photographs, breaching a restraining order and making a malicious communication in relation to a second female victim.

Detective Inspector Kate Lill, representing Dorset Police’s Serious Sexual Offences Team, said: “Lee Hogben is a dangerous offender who raped and sexually assaulted his frightened victim.

“I want to praise her and all the witnesses in this case for their courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation.

“We will always take reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, regardless of someone’s background or circumstances, and have a specialist team of officers who will investigate cases and ensure victims are fully supported.”