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Police have praised the victims of a restauranteur who was today jailed for 15 years for rape, sexual assault and assault for the "strength" they showed throughout the investigation and court process.
Gavin Roberts (45) was described in the Royal Court as a repeat offender who regularly got drunk and grabbed his victims around the neck.
In February, Roberts was convicted of a list of violent offences against two women after a nine-day trial.
Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit, prosecuting, described how he had committed common assault against one woman.
The second woman – who agreed to be identified by media as Suzannah Mahe – stood in the witness box for four days in February to describe how she had met Roberts on a dating app and started seeing him, and that she worked for one of his hospitality ventures but was never paid.
Pictured: Suzie Mahe, one of Roberts' victims, has decided to share her story publicly.
The court heard how Roberts had assaulted her after a night out, and how on a holiday in Turkey, he had become angry when he was drunk.
During the trip, Miss Mahe left the nightclub they were visiting and only returned to the hotel some hours later – at which point Roberts threw her into the lift and dragged her into the hotel room.
He then raped and sexually assaulted her for some time, the court heard.
Upon their return to Jersey, Roberts attacked Miss Mahe on two more occasions, when he became angry in their home and beat and strangled her, and on one occasion, locked her out of the house.
In June, Roberts had also pleaded guilty to three counts of voyeurism against a third woman.
This was discovered after police found a hard drive Roberts owned.
The drive contained video recordings of Roberts having sex with a woman who did not appear aware that she was being filmed.
The three videos were between one and two hours long.
Watch: Detective Inspector Aiden Quenault, the head of the Public Protection Unit, praised the women for the "strength" in supporting the prosecution
Even after pleading guilty, the court heard, Roberts had insisted that the woman knew she was being recorded.
Today, Miss Mahe told the court about the impact of being in an abusive relationship with Roberts in which he strangled her on multiple occasions and raped her.
She said she had had to relocate and had been unable to work as a healthcare assistant – due to her injuries at first, and later because she felt she wouldn't be able to manage "challenging behaviours" from clients "as it would be a constant reminder of what Gavin has put me through".
Miss Mahe was diagnosed with upper airway paradoxical dysfunction and vocal cord damage as a result of the attacks, and was initially unable to communicate.
She said: "I have not been able to wear my hair fully down... as when it touches my neck it makes my stomach sink, because I feel as though he has his hands around my neck again. This includes jewellery."
She had stopped going out and avoided driving past a number of locations around the island, such as the Royal Yacht or the building that used to host Shinzo.
Pictured: Miss Mahe still has to avoid driving past Shinzo, the restaurant that Roberts owned.
Miss Mahe spoke of the impact on her mental health, how she blamed herself for the attacks, and how she attempted to take her own life.
"I feel like I'm the one who's received a life sentence and I'm in a prison of my own," she said.
"I have subject myself to the whole process of the investigation and court, not only for myself but also so that other women can feel strong enough to come forward, as well as protecting future partners of his, who will hopefully know and understand how dangerous he can be."
Crown Advocate Maletroit asked for Roberts to be jailed for 15 years, and suggested a new set of guidelines for the court to use in sentencings for rapes against adults.
These would range from a five-year starting point to a 15-year starting point for the most serious of cases.
There are currently no local sentencing guidelines, he said, and the courts had been arguing for the past eight years about the use of UK guidelines.
But Advocate Olaf Blakeley, defending, said that it would be unfair and inconsistent to introduce new sentencing guidelines.
Crown Advocate Maletroit said that Roberts presented "numerous" risk factors of reoffending, and that the risk of harm was "serious".
A probation report found that Roberts' apology was "superficial", he added.
Roberts regularly showed "sexually deviant behaviours", Crown Advocate Maletroit said.
"Strangulation is the prime method of subverting his victims," he explained.
Roberts was today sentenced to 15 years in prison.
He was also put on the sex offenders register for 18 year, and made subject to a domestic abuse protection order for an indefinite period.
The case saw nine Jurats assemble in the Superior Number – which only happens for the most serious cases.
The Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, presided alongside Jurats Christensen, Austin-Vautier, Averty, Le Cornu, Le Heuzé, Opfermann, Entwistle and Berry.
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Islanders affected by any of the issues raised in this report can contact any of the following:
SARC at Dewberry House provides expert independent and confidential support to victims of sexual abuse. Tel: 01534 888222.
Jersey Action Against Rape (JAAR) provide and maintain a supporting framework for survivors and their families. Confidential helpline: 01534 482800.
Freeda (formerly Jersey Women’s Refuge) offer help and support for victims of domestic abuse. Tel: 0800 7356836.
Jersey Domestic Abuse Support (JDAS) is an independent service developed to protect and support victims of domestic and sexual abuse. Tel: 01534 880505.
Victim Support offer free and confidential advice to victims of crime. Tel: 01534 440496.
Victims First Jersey is a free and independent service offering confidential support to victims and witnesses of crime. Tel: 0800 7351612.
Samaritans offer a confidential and non-judgemental listening ear to people who need to talk. Tel: 116 123 free from any phone or 0330 094 5717 (local call charges apply).
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