A UK court sentenced a man to prison on Thursday for removing a condom without consent during sex, a case described as a “milestone” by London’s Metropolitan Police.
Guy Mukendi, 39, from south London, received a sentence of four years and three months following his conviction in April, according to the London police.
Mukendi was arrested in May of the previous year after a young woman in Brixton, south London, reported a sexual assault.
The Metropolitan Police stated that the woman had agreed to have sex with Mukendi only if he used a condom. However, during the encounter, Mukendi removed the condom without her knowledge.
In England and Wales, non-consensual condom removal, known as “stealthing,” is legally classified as rape.
The Met said such prosecutions are “very rare” due to under-reporting but that they are dedicated to pursuing “justice” for victims.
“This milestone case comes as the Met continues its pledge to be more suspect-focused in their approach to crimes that disproportionately affect women and girls,” the force said in a statement detailing the prosecution.
Mukendi was found guilty on April 2 at Inner London Crown Court, and was sentenced at the same court on Thursday.
“Throughout this investigation Mukendi denied any wrongdoing — but our officers built a compelling case against him to leave no doubt in the jury’s mind,” said Detective Constable Jack Earl, who led the investigation.
“We were dedicated to securing justice for the victim and will continue to raise awareness that this crime is a form of rape.”
