Woman encourages other survivors of rape to report abuse after offender jailed

A courageous woman is encouraging other victim-survivors to report abuse after a man was jailed for raping her.

It comes after Callum Williams, 25, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison today (Thursday 12 March) at Luton Crown Court.

The survivor said no-one should be made to doubt whether they have given consent, and was praised by detectives for her bravery.

“By reporting assaults, you help ensure that these offences are recorded so offenders can be held accountable and brought to justice.

“We all have rights, and we should never be made to doubt whether we gave consent. Deep down, we know the answer. From the moment of the assault through to any court proceedings, there is a wide range of support available to help you through this incredibly difficult and daunting time, and to assist you as you recover and move forward with your life.”

Williams, of Shildon, Durham, met the woman in a pub and had drinks in Hemel Hempstead town centre on Thursday 7 October last year.

He then took her to the Premier Inn on Moor End Road, with CCTV showing how he carried her to a room he had booked before raping her during the early hours of 8 October.

At around 3.30am, hotel staff called the police after she was found wandering the halls in a confused state.

Williams fled the area and returned to his home city of Durham, where he was located hiding in a shed by officers two days later.

During his police interview, Williams claimed they had consensual sex. Following toxicology results, it was shown the survivor did not have capacity to consent due to alcohol consumption, and Williams soon changed his plea to guilty.

At today’s sentencing hearing, Williams was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Detective Constable Alice Garrett, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team, added: “Callum Williams is a dangerous and calculated sexual predator who preyed on a woman who was in no position to give her consent.

“He showed a flagrant disregard for his behaviour, and it wasn’t until the toxicology results were returned that he realised he simply had no defence and changed his plea, which thankfully spared the survivor the ordeal of a criminal trial.

“While nothing can undo this horrific incident, I hope today’s lengthy prison sentence will give the survivor time to heal and move on with her life when she is ready to do so, and I commend her for her bravery during this difficult process.

“This also serves as an important reminder – if there is any question over whether someone has given their consent or not, assume they haven’t given it.

“Becoming a victim of sexual assault is never your fault. If you’ve been a victim, no matter how long ago the offence occurred, please report it. We have specialist officers on hand to provide advice and support throughout an investigation, and we take all reports seriously.”

You can report information online, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.

Anyone in Hertfordshire who has experienced sexual abuse or sexual violence can contact the Herts Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for practical and emotional support. The centre can arrange face-to-face support, sexual health referrals, and provide forensic medical examinations for those who want them. This service is open to everyone – men, women and young people, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.

To contact Herts SARC, call the 24/7 helpline on 0808 178 4448, email them or visit the Herts SARC website (opens in a new window).

An Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) can also offer you support and advice. To find out more information visit Find an ISVA - The Survivors Trust.

Consent means agreeing to what's happening by choice, and having the freedom and ability to make or change that choice.

• You can change your mind at any point and withdraw consent for anything sexual you're doing.
• If someone carries on after you've asked them to stop, that's still rape or sexual assault, even if you originally said yes.
• Saying yes to one thing doesn't mean you've consented to anything else.
• If you're threatened or pressured into something, then you haven't consented freely and it's a crime.
• If you can't freely give consent then it's a crime, for example if you're asleep, too drunk to consent, or have taken drugs.

For more information around consent, visit Consent | Hertfordshire Constabulary.