A man who was found guilty of the repeated rape of a woman at addresses in Eastleigh and Southampton has now been jailed.

Ashley Scott Hudson, 30, of Chapel Drove in Eastleigh, appeared at Southampton Crown Court today (Friday 25 April) where he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Back in January, a jury sitting at the same court found Hudson guilty of six counts of rape and one count of attempted rape.

The jury were told how in November 2021 a woman in her 20s reported to police that Hudson had raped her on six occasions between August 2019 and October 2021, as well as attempting to rape her on one occasion.

Hudson was arrested and charged with the offences but denied them, and the case went to a trial which began on Tuesday 14 January at Southampton Crown Court.

The court heard how on each occasion Hudson had repeatedly ignored the woman involved when she told him she didn’t want to have sex with him.

Despite denying the offences, the jury found Hudson guilty a week after the trial began, on January 21^st.

He has now been sentenced to 16 years in prison with an additional five years extended licence. He will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order indefinitely.

Police Staff Investigator Keely Osborne of Hampshire & Isle of Wight’s Operation Amberstone unit, which specialises in investigating rape and serious sexual offences, said: “Myself and many other detectives, officers and police staff have put in many hours of work to ensure that Hudson was brought to justice for what he has done. We are pleased that, based on the evidence presented to them and the testimony of the victim, the jury were able to see through Hudson’s lies and that he will now spend time in prison for his crimes.

“We must express our sincere thanks to the victim in this case for reporting what happened to her and for her courage throughout the investigation and criminal justice process. Without her support we may not have achieved this sentence today.

“We understand that rape, sexual offences and domestic violence in any form can have a devastating impact on victims who may feel as though they are trapped and cannot seek help.

“You can report incidents to police, no matter when the incident happened, and you can speak to a specialist officer in confidence who can provide you with support.”

We encourage anyone who has been affected by sexual assault or rape to contact police on 101.

We recognise that not everyone has the confidence to talk to police about what they have experienced. Please be reassured that there are other services available that can offer you specialist support to help you deal with the impact of abuse.

For those in Southampton, Yellow Door, a local charity, can also offer you a range of help and support. You can visit their website at yellowdoor.org.uk or contact them on 023 8063 6312.

For information and contact details relating to sexual abuse support services, you can visit our dedicated web page: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/support-for-victims-of-rape-and-sexual-assault/