Overview

• Kate’s ex-husband was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2022 for rape, sexual assault by penetration, and administering a substance with intent, following years of secretly drugging and raping her.
• The Crown Prosecution Service initially declined to charge the perpetrator despite significant evidence but reversed its decision after Kate applied for a formal review and later issued an apology.
• Kate continues to recover from PTSD and a neurological disorder caused by the trauma, highlighting the long-term impact of covert spousal sexual violence.
• The UK government is progressing the Crime and Policing Bill, which will create a specific spiking offence punishable by up to 10 years in prison, aiming to improve data tracking and victim reporting.
• Kate’s case has drawn comparisons to the high-profile French Pelicot mass rape trial, underlining global challenges in addressing drug-facilitated sexual violence.