A man who raped a woman and dragged her across the floor by her hair has been jailed for 12 years.
Attack and arrest
Martin Bugden, 32, committed the brutal attack at his home in Ashford, Kent, on January 21, 2021. The victim repeatedly told him 'no,' but he overpowered her and raped her. He then hauled her across the floor by her hair and warned that if she called the police he would kill her. A neighbour heard the disturbance and dialled 999 at 11.45pm.
Police arrived within 10 minutes and found both the victim and Bugden inside the property. He was arrested at the scene. In interview, he denied the rape and sexual assault.
Bail and harassment
Released on bail with a strict no-contact condition, Bugden began harassing the victim less than a fortnight later with persistent texts and phone calls. He was arrested again for harassment on February 19.
Bugden, formerly of Waghorn Street, Chatham, was later charged with nine sexual offences, including two counts of rape.
Sentencing and police comment
On Thursday July 23, 2026, he was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment at Canterbury Crown Court.
Detective Constable Josh Cooper said: "This was a brutal attack that has robbed the victim of her sense of security and has left her with lasting mental anguish. I would like to commend her for her continued resolve throughout this investigative process. I am satisfied that my team was able to secure such a substantial sentence that reflects the severity of his offending. He will be placed behind bars for a considerable amount of time where he can no longer pose a threat to women in our community."
