Former Worcestershire player Hepburn found guilty of rape

[rooster59]

Former Worcestershire player Hepburn found guilty of rape

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Australian-born former Worcestershire county cricketer Alex Hepburn was found guilty at a re-trial on Friday of raping a sleeping woman as part of a sex game conducted on WhatsApp.

 

The BBC and Sky television reported the jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict on a count of oral rape after deliberating for nearly 11 hours.

 

The 23-year-old was cleared of a second rape charge involving the same woman, who had earlier had consensual sex with team mate Joe Clarke, in his Worcester apartment after a night out with friends on April 1, 2017.

 

Hepburn had denied both charges.

 

Sentencing will be at Hereford Crown Court on April 30, with the judge warning that a custodial sentence was inevitable. The earlier trial in January failed to reach a verdict.

 

The court heard Hepburn was part of a WhatsApp group that kept a score of the women its members had slept with as part of a 'conquest game'.

 

Worcestershire chairman Fanos Hira said in a statement on the club website that they were appalled by the details reported.

 

The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) said the case provided "a stark reminder to all PCA members of all requirements and behaviours demanded of a professional cricketer."

 

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Wall of West Mercia police welcomed the conviction and said Hepburn had been in "a position of trust and power" at the time of the assault.

 

"I hope it will offer some comfort to the victim, who has shown great courage and strength in coming forward in reporting this to us, throughout the investigation and in giving evidence in court," he said.

 

Hepburn was handed a one-year contract extension at Worcestershire on Oct. 12, 2017 but was suspended from playing any form of cricket after he was charged with two counts of rape on Nov. 9 that year.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-04-13

[sammieuk1]

What is this game they play of oral rape more details needed mlud????

[Jane Dough]

3 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

What is this game they play of oral rape more details needed mlud????

I'm stumped.

 

Rooster

[newatthis]

What a hero!  Big, brave sportsman rapes a sleeping woman. 

It wouldn't matter if she had sex with the entire Worcestershire XI before; it doesn't mean anyone else can.

All the way from trendy Subiaco to a British prison.

Maybe, when he's finished his jail term they can deport him to .....Brunei.

 

[Basil B]

4 hours ago, Jane Dough said:

I'm stumped.

 

Rooster

I suppose he will have to make do with a googly & sticky wicket for the near future...

[Baerboxer]

I wonder if the police will investigate other members of the App group and or/other similar Apps?

 

Maybe a few other celebrities, entertainers and "sportsmen" are worrying now?

[Jane Dough]

1 hour ago, Basil B said:

I suppose he will have to make do with a googly & sticky wicket for the near future...

You crease me up. 

 

But one thing is for sure....he won't be bowling a maiden over for a while.

 

Rooster

[Basil B]

1 hour ago, Baerboxer said:

I wonder if the police will investigate other members of the App group and or/other similar Apps?

 

Maybe a few other celebrities, entertainers and "sportsmen" are worrying now?

I doubt unless minors or mentally incapacitated persons were involved.

 

Not illegal to tell your mates with who and what you did, certainly unethical though.

Edited April 13, 2019 by Basil B

[Ulic]

What is this oral rape while she was sleeping? Did he perform cunnilingus or her perform fellatio? I understand he did her wrong but I don't really understand what happened.

[Pilotman]

2 minutes ago, Ulic said:

What is this oral rape while she was sleeping? Did he perform cunnilingus or her perform fellatio? I understand he did her wrong but I don't really understand what happened.

Use your imagination. 

[Basil B]

18 hours ago, Ulic said:

What is this oral rape while she was sleeping? Did he perform cunnilingus or her perform fellatio? I understand he did her wrong but I don't really understand what happened.

To much information...

[Basil B]

5 years...

Quote

A "foul sexist" cricketer has been jailed for raping a sleeping woman.

Ex-Worcestershire player Alex Hepburn assaulted the victim at his Worcester flat after she had consensual sex with his then teammate Joe Clarke in 2017.

The 23-year-old was found guilty of rape earlier this month and sentenced to five years at Hereford Crown Court.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-48108278