A man who projected an image of success as a millionaire businessman has been jailed for 14 years for a campaign of rape and abuse against a woman. Dean Holmes, 43, from Heaton, Bolton, was convicted by a jury at Bolton Crown Court of four counts of rape encompassing at least six acts, following a trial last month.
Holmes, who pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour, denied the rape charges. His victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court he had 'systematically ruined' her life, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Police interview shows emotional collapse
Police video released by Greater Manchester Police shows Holmes open-mouthed when told he was being arrested for rape, before sobbing and saying: "I've not done nothing, honestly!" The woman described how he would call her 'a slag, a slut, a dirty f***ing rat, a tramp' and bombarded her with thousands of abusive messages and voice notes. He forced her to upload intimate pictures of herself online to make money for him, the trial was told.
In one voicenote, he said: "This is what's f***ing annoying about you, you're so stupid and thick, you see how much you f***ing annoy me with your idiot f***ing retardedness over a snap chat filter." She described being punched, pushed, and forced to perform sex acts despite refusing, eventually reporting him to police last year.
Victim's statement describes torment
In a victim personal statement read to the court, the woman said: "These past ten months have been an absolute torment. Dealing with the trauma of what (he) did to me... was already an unbearable burden. However, having the intimate, painful details of my abuse exposed and read out in open court forced me to relive the terror of every single moment all over again."
She added: "Dean Holmes systematically ruined my life. He took a strong, independent woman with a thriving career, a fulfilling life, and an outgoing personality, and reduced me to a mere shell of my former self. Because of what (he) did to me." She said the shame "belongs to him because of what he chose to do to me. He made those choices, I did not."
Judge notes absence of remorse
Prosecutor Mark Kellett told the court Holmes was convicted of assaulting another woman in 2023, receiving a six-month suspended sentence. Graham Rishton, defending, said Holmes had run 'successful businesses' and had a 'considerable work ethic', and that his friends described him as 'thoughtful and generous'. Sentencing, Judge Jon Close noted an 'absence of remorse' and described the messages to his 'particularly vulnerable' victim as 'cruel, intimidating and bullying'.
Holmes, appearing via videolink from HMP Altcourse, showed no reaction as he was jailed for 14 years plus an extra three months for offending during a suspended sentence. He will be eligible for parole two-thirds into his sentence, was given a 20-year restraining order, and was placed on the sex offenders' register for life.
Detective Constable Paul Milligan said: "I'd firstly like to thank the victim for her incredible courage in bringing this case to the courts. Her strength in coming forward and supporting this whole investigation has helped us keep Holmes behind bars for the damage, hurt, and trauma he caused." He urged anyone experiencing controlling or coercive behaviour to report it, adding: "Nobody deserves to go through this, or any type of abuse, and your care is always our priority."
