A British Army corporal has been convicted of raping a female colleague who was staying in his room after celebrating his promotion.
Corporal Daniel Conway attacked the female soldier at her barracks in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and he later told her: ‘Trust me, you’re fine, I was wearing a condom’.
Cpl Conway, 1 Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps, denied the charges of rape and penetrative assault, but was convicted of both offenses at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire. He will be sentenced in May.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had stayed in Cpl Conway’s room after a night out despite the fact that he “made it clear nothing was going to happen” before going to sleep.
But instead, forced to order Corporal Conway to stop what he was doing after she woke up and he performed oral sex on her, she heard a court martial.
Corporal Daniel Conway, 1 Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps, was convicted of raping a female colleague who was staying in his room after celebrating his promotion
The female soldier went back to sleep, but then woke up again, this time with a “feeling like when you’re having sex” as she jumped out of bed in horror.
He fled to the bathroom and when he returned, Cpl Conway was missing.
The female soldier then messaged Cpl Conway on WhatsApp to ask if he had used a condom, which he confirmed he had, but when he was later accused of raping her, he claimed he had not actually had sex with her.
Processing, Jane Carpenter told the court martial that the woman had arranged to stay in Corporal Conway’s room beforehand and he asked if he could stay there with her.
Describing what happened when they went to the room after the party, Ms Carpenter said: ‘Cpl Conway started groping her butt and she told him to stop. He stopped. They then snuggled up before going to sleep.
She woke up and felt his tongue penetrating her. She wasn’t sure where to go or what to do. She went back to sleep.
‘She woke up again and jumped up and felt something leave her. She went into the bathroom and when she came back, he was gone. She texted her friends to see if anyone was up, but no one responded.
‘In the morning, when she said goodbye to everyone, he didn’t say anything and left immediately. She sent a message on WhatsApp saying that her behavior was unacceptable.
‘He replied ‘believe me, you’re fine, I was wearing (a condom)’. When she accused him of rape, he denied having sex with her.
“When he was arrested, he said, ‘I know why you’re here. I didn’t even sleep with her.'”
Cpl Conway denied the charges of rape and penetrative assault, but was convicted of both offenses at Bulford Military Court (pictured), Wiltshire. He will be sentenced in May
The court was told that DNA analysis of her panties found saliva matching that of Cpl Conway, but no semen.
The woman told the court: ‘I said ‘it wasn’t going to happen’ and we had a conversation about it. I told him that I don’t like one night stands and that I was interested in someone else. He is much younger than me too.
He was touching my butt. He was rubbing my butt and squeezing it. She was holding it correctly, I was surprised. I told him to stop and we went to sleep.
In a video interview played in court, the woman said: “I woke up and he was behind me and his face was between my legs.” I told him to stop and he did.
“Again I suddenly woke up with the feeling that my body was moving like when you are having sex. There was a feeling as if they had entered me.
‘I jumped away, I was confused. I don’t know what they did to me. I went to the bathroom and when I came back it was gone.
“In the morning I showered, I went to say goodbye to everyone and he was there. He was gone in a couple of seconds.
The woman told the hearing: ‘I feel violated. Not knowing what she did is the worst part.
The court heard that the next day, after a conversation with a friend, she sent Conway a WhatsApp message to confront him.
The victim awoke to Corporal Conway (pictured) performing oral sex on her and ordered him to stop. Later, she felt a ‘feeling like when you’re having sex’.
She texted: “You need to be more aware of what you want and what you don’t.” He replied ‘I’m so sorry. Being angry is not an excuse. Apologies’.
The next day, he texted me, “I know you had sex with me before I woke up.” Did you take something? I need to know if he was protected.’
He said, ‘Trust me, you’re fine. I was wearing (a condom) I was steaming. Sorry, end of’.
The female soldier told him “it was a rape” and he replied “they raped my mom, I know what it’s like to be a witness. We didn’t have sex, I can assure you.”
Confused, she pointed out that he admitted to using a condom, the court heard.
He replied: ‘We never had sex, I never entered you. I don’t know why I said that.
