Woman Recognizes Rapist, Takes Matters into Her Own Hands

A woman recognized her rapist and "took matters into her own hands" to bring him to justice. Kevin Knox, 33, spiked his victim's drink with sleeping tablets before sexually abusing her while she was helpless in her own bed.

Months later, Knox attempted to attack her again using a similar method. However, the quick-thinking woman switched their drinks, leading to Knox accidentally drugging himself.

A trial at Liverpool Crown Court revealed that Knox raped the woman in August of last year before returning to her apartment three months later. During the second incident, he broke into the apartment and stole a kitchen knife.

Prosecutor Gareth Roberts described the "strange circumstances of the case," highlighting that the victim was "supplementing her income" by working as an escort at the time. Knox initially met the victim as a "potential client" on the website AdultWork. They had agreed on a payment of £1,750 for sex, but Knox "had no intention of paying."

He spiked the woman's vodka with zopiclone, a sleeping tablet found in her system, leaving her "feeling extremely groggy" and "rendering her pretty much incapable" before raping her. Knox then allegedly stole her bank cards, but he was acquitted of charges related to this theft.

In November, Knox contacted the woman again, using a different phone number and the name "Danny," asking if he could pay for her services. She recognized him when he arrived at her apartment and "decided to take matters into her own hands." Knox poured two drinks, but the woman switched their glasses without his knowledge. He then "started to demonstrate signs of having been drugged" and was dropped off at a petrol station by the woman.

Despite this, Knox returned to the woman's empty apartment and smashed a window to gain entry before stealing a knife from the kitchen. Police arrived at the scene and found Knox "wandering about in a communal area" and "stumbling around" with the weapon. Zopiclone was found in his system following his arrest, as were traces of his semen from the first incident.

Knox was found guilty of three counts of rape and one count of burglary and sentenced to 12 years in prison, with a minimum of eight years before parole. He was also handed an indefinite restraining order and must register as a sex offender for life.