Teenager found guilty of raping woman in Portsmouth city centre car park has sentenced delayed

Daniel Booth, 19, of Beresford Road, Stamshaw, was found guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court of raping the then 20-year-old woman on June 29 last year.

The woman had been separated from her friends shortly after 11pm following a night out in the city when the attack happened.

‘She reported waking up in what officers later said was Hippodrome House Car Park in the early hours of June 30 with no recollection of what had happened to her,’ a police spokeswoman said.

An investigation was launched, led by Hampshire Constabulary’s specialist Operation Amberstone team, before extensive CCTV enquiries led to the arrest of Booth.

Booth denied the charge of rape but was found guilty by jurors.

He was remanded in custody to appear at the same court on Wednesday morning for sentencing.

However, the case did not go ahead and has been ‘adjourned for a date to be fixed’, according to the court.

Barristers started indefinite strike action this week in a row over legal aid pay. However, it is not clear if this impacted the case being heard.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) wants a 25 per cent rise in legal aid fees for representing defendants who could not otherwise afford lawyers. The government offered a 15 per cent rise but this was rejected.

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Anyone affected by sexual abuse should call police on 101 or go to the website: www.hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/support-for-victims-of-rape-and-sexual-assault/