Braintree man jailed for 15 years for sexual assault and rape

BRAINTREE MAN JAILED FOR 15 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE

A man who assaulted a woman incapable of providing consent through rape and sexual assault has been given a prison sentence.

Paul Gellen, of Goldingham Drive in Braintree, was found guilty on Thursday, May 5, after a trial held at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Despite denying the accusations of rape, sexual assault, and assault by penetration, the jury convicted him of all charges.

He was sentenced on the following day to serve 15 years in prison with a supplementary six-year period on licence.

The incidents took place on two different occasions, once in December 2019 and again in March 2020.

Both attacks occurred following nights out, and in the second event, Gellen was trusted to give the victim a lift home.

The victim later learned of what had transpired when Gellen disclosed it to her, as she had no recollection of the assault.

Essex Police’s Detective Constable Liv Howells commented that Gellen had taken advantage of the victim’s vulnerability for his sexual gratification.

She highlighted that silence or failure to say ‘no’ does not imply consent, emphasizing the need for clear and explicit agreement in sexual encounters.

She also praised the victim for her bravery in reporting the crime and expressed hope that her conviction would enable her to recover and move on from the ordeal.