A man who raped a woman while she slept has been given a four year sentence.
Jailing Kieran Vige at Craigavon Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Patrick Lynch QC ordered the 32-year-old to serve half his sentence in prison and the rest on licence.
The judge said his victim was “comatose at the time…and therefore unable to make any representations about what had occurred.”
“The defendant had invited the injured party to his home so as a guest, she was entitled to believe that she was in a safe environment but that turned out not to be the case,” said the judge.
Last October Vige, from Wesley Street in Lisburn, was on trial for the rape attack and the victim was just about to take the witness box to give her evidence when the 32-year-old made an 11th hour dock confession.
The jury heard that on June 29, 2018, the rapist and his victim were at a party when Vige invited her back to his house.
“She said that she was tired and he offered her the spare room, which she accepted,” said Judge Lynch but he added that some time later, “she woke to find him having intercourse with her”.
The judge said that “unusually,” it was Vige himself who rang the police.
However, although he agreed “with the general circumstances” when questioned by police, he could not account as to why he was naked in the woman’s bed and nor could he explain how DNA was found on his private parts.
Judge Lynch said he had a victim impact report which indicated that “the consequences of his actions are still living with her” while reports compiled on Vige showed that he has a “complex mental health history” with a diagnosis of “some form of schizophrenia” coupled with a “troubled upbringing” in the care system.
In addition to the jail sentence, Vige was also made subject to a five year Sexual Offences Prevention Order which among its conditions bars the pervert from staying anywhere without permission and from starting any new relationship with making verifiable disclosure of his conviction.
In addition, Vige will have to sign the police sex offenders register “for an indefinite period.”
welcoming the sentence, Detective Constable Mallon, said: “The woman in this case displayed immense courage in seeing this investigation through to a successful conclusion.
“I hope that her tenacity and resolution to bring this man to justice will encourage anyone else who has experienced any form of sexual abuse to come forward to police.
“Officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland remain committed to investigating all reports of sexual offences. We will seek to place offenders before the courts so they can be made amenable for their crimes.
“I would like to take this opportunity to assure any victims of sexual abuse that they will be treated with sensitivity and respect, and I would continue to encourage anyone who has experienced any form of sexual abuse to contact police on 101, or ‘999’ in an emergency.”
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