ByAnonymous, Anonymous
A strictly Orthodox man has been found guilty of kidnapping and raping his ex-wife .
The man showed no emotion as he was convicted of one count of kidnap, two counts of rape and one count of false imprisonment.
Sentencing will take place on Monday.
The jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court reached their verdict after hearing how the man had knocked out his victim with a gas spray, and taken her to what she described as a dungeon inside a warehouse.
She was then bound and raped twice.
The man then left her locked in with no obvious means of escape.
She was found “distressed and disoriented” by police who responded to her cries for help.
During the trial, the woman had sent emails to the court withdrawing her allegations. The prosecution claimed she had done so because she had feared being stigmatised within the Charedi community.
A second man, described as a “trusted friend” of the Charedi man, was found not guilty of aiding and abetting the rapes and false imprisonment of the woman.
The jury were unable to reach a verdict against the second defendant on a charge of aiding and abetting the kidnap, despite being sent back by Judge Nigel Peters to come to a majority verdict.
Prosecutors have until July 13 to decide whether to seek a retrial on the charge.
Barrister Jonathan Goldberg, who represented the Charedi man, indicated that his client wanted to appeal against the convictions.