Poole Woman Breaks Her Silence After Being Raped Twice
A woman in her 60s has been praised for her courage after coming forward to report that she had been raped by a man known to her in Poole.
The victim was raped at an address in the town on two occasions, in September and November 2022.
She did not report the offences immediately. In April 2023, several months after the second incident, she bravely came forward to police and told detectives what had happened.
An investigation was launched, during which officers examined the mobile phones belonging to both the victim and the defendant. Following liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service, 63-year-old Stephen Dorris, of Poole, was charged with two counts of rape.
Dorris was arrested in June 2023 and interviewed by detectives. He was subsequently found guilty following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.
On Tuesday, 11 August 2026, he was sentenced at the same court to seven years in prison and made subject to an indefinite restraining order.
Detective Constable Thomas Norman, of BCP CID, praised the victim for coming forward.
“I would like to praise the victim in this case for coming forward and reporting what happened to her,” he said.
“Her bravery has ensured that a sexual offender has been put behind bars and will face the consequences of his actions.”
He added that police would “always thoroughly investigate a report of a sexual offence”, even when it is not reported at the time it occurred.
The case also highlights how difficult it can be for victims to report rape, particularly when the alleged offender is someone they know. National figures show that many victims do not report sexual offences to police.
According to the Office for National Statistics, only around one in seven victims of rape or assault by penetration reported their most recent assault to police. Among those who told someone but did not contact police, 38.5% said they did not think police could help, 35.3% cited embarrassment and 30.5% said they thought reporting would be humiliating. Nearly a quarter, 24.4%, feared they would not be believed.
The ONS also estimates that 1.9 million people aged 16 and over had experienced rape or attempted rape since the age of 16, demonstrating the scale of sexual violence that can remain hidden.
Anyone who has experienced rape or sexual assault and wishes to report it to police can call 101 and ask to speak to a specially trained officer. In an emergency, call 999. Alternatively, The Shores Sexual Assault Referral Centre can be contacted on 0800 970 9954.
