In a significant legal development, a 39-year-old man from the Belfast area, Stephen Dalton, was sentenced today at Laganside Crown Court for charges of rape and sexual assault. The court imposed a six-year and six-month sentence, with Dalton set to serve three years and three months in custody and an additional three years and three months on licence.
Dalton’s actions targeted a vulnerable young woman who had become separated from her friends, according to Detective Constable Grant. The court heard that Dalton’s actions were characterised by callousness and a complete disregard for consent, emphasising that consent is paramount, and any violation amounts to rape.
