Man sentenced to 12 years for country lane rape

A man who subjected a woman to rape and threatened her life in broad daylight has been incarcerated for 12 years. Kenneth Watson was walking with his victim on Smee Lane in Great Plumstead, near Norwich, when he committed the rape, during which he held her neck, preventing her from breathing. The victim successfully alerted two dog walkers who were passing by, and police subsequently apprehended Watson in the vicinity a short time later. Watson, a 53-year-old from Lowestoft, Suffolk, received his sentence at Norwich Crown Court on Tuesday. This followed a trial earlier this year where he was found guilty of rape, intentional strangulation, and threats to kill. In an impact statement, his victim stated: “This incident has completely broken me. I’ve had to reach out and accept support from many services, which I find hard to do. But all I can do is put my head down and carry on until hopefully one day, it will somehow feel better.” Watson was also given an additional three years on extended licence and was placed on the sex offenders register for life. The offence occurred on 7 June 2023. Detective Constable Helen Walters remarked: “Watson is a dangerous individual who took advantage of someone who should have been able to trust him. I commend the victim, who has shown incredible strength and courage throughout the trial. No sentence will take away the harm Watson has caused her, but I truly hope the verdict on this case is the start of the healing process for her.”