A man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after raping two young women at a Holiday Inn and assaulting a third woman by spiking her drink. Philip Duffield, 25, committed the crimes in Shrewsbury in 2024 before attacking the third victim in Birmingham. Following his trial at Birmingham Crown Court, he was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration. The judge deemed him ‘dangerous’ and imposed an additional three-year license term.
Duffield, who had been at a Shrewsbury Hotel Wetherspoons with a friend, targeted the first two victims, aged 18 and 20, who later reported feeling sexually threatened by him. Subsequently, they all ended up at a Holiday Inn after visiting other establishments. CCTV footage captured Duffield carrying one of the unconscious girls into a room he had booked in advance. During the incident, his friend caused harm to one of the victims, leading to her injury.
The court heard that Duffield raped the 18-year-old girl on the bed while the other victim was in the bathroom. Upon her return, he assaulted the older woman in front of the first victim. The judge, Heidi Kubik, stated that Duffield took advantage of the victims’ vulnerable state due to extreme intoxication.
After being bailed following his initial arrest, Duffield assaulted another woman in Birmingham by spiking her drink with alcohol and an unknown substance. The victim woke up to find herself being sexually assaulted and experienced hallucinations and physical distress at the hospital.
Judge Kubik characterized Duffield as a ‘dangerous offender’ with no remorse or understanding of the consequences of his actions. The impact on the victims was profound, with one suffering from anxiety and depression, leading to her withdrawal from college and social circles. Despite Duffield’s defense claiming his positive character and lack of prior offenses, the judge highlighted his maturity and professional background, emphasizing the severity of his crimes.
