Co. Down man admits raping female sex worker

By Q Radio news

A county Down man has confessed to the violent attack and rape of a female sex worker. 

In an almost unique prosecution at Newry Crown Court Gary Doak, who turns 49 this weekend, was about to go on trial accused of trying to kill the woman as well as multiple rapes. 

With a jury of six men and six women sworn in ready to hear the victim’s testimony, defence QC Charles McKay asked for some of the charges to be put to Doak again. 

It was then that Doak, from Dickson Park in Seapatrick just outside Banbridge, entered guilty pleas to oral rape, sexual assault involving penetration, unlawfully and injuriously imprisoning the victim, assaulting her occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault on 9 March 2017. 

Following the guilty pleas, prosecuting QC John Orr asked for the remaining charges, including attempted murder and other allegations of rape and attempted rape, to be left in the books. 

Previous courts heard how Doak paid his victim £200 to come to his home but he became aggressive and tied her up using cable ties and a sock to gag her. 

Fully bound, Doak carried her to the bedroom where on the Crown case, he forced her to perform sex acts and raped her before placing a plastic bag over her head. 

During an unsuccessful bail application by Doak, a prosecuting lawyer described how “the injured party described that she felt she was fighting for her life and she thought she was going to die.

"She was wondering what he was going to do with her body after he killed her."

During the struggle a hole developed in the bag and she managed to struggle free and run to the kitchen where she armed herself with a knife and during the ensuing struggle, each inflicted bite marks on the other. 

Doak is alleged to have told the woman that he panicked after he suffered “flashbacks from the war” and when his house was searched after his arrest, cops uncovered a number of bondage DVD’s. 

Arrested and interviewed, Doak claimed the sexual encounter had been consensual after the alleged victim agreed to bondage style sex but that she became aggressive and attacked him. 

Given his confessions today (thurs) however, Doak now accepts he raped the victim. 

Swearing the jury in yesterday (wed), trial Judge Gordon Kerr warned them although the victim is a sex worker, it was “vital” that did not invoke any sympathy or prejudice and allowing them to go home today (thurs), he thanked them for their services.

Remanding Doak back into custody, Judge Kerr adjourned passing sentence until 13 December, ordering both victim impact report and a pre-sentence probation report to be compiled.