In 2022, the Offender Database recorded that Stuart Lionel Cosgrave, then 48, of Fyning Street, Landport, Portsmouth, Hampshire, was jailed for 10 and a half years for a “sickening” rape and sexual assault. On Friday, 17 June 2022, Cosgrave appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing. The court reported that the defendant targeted a woman known to him in 2018 and recorded the assaults on his mobile phone.
The investigation established that the victim had initially contacted Hampshire Constabulary to report Cosgrave for other offences, including burglary and harassment. Upon his arrest, detectives seized two mobile phones, which, when examined, were found to contain several videos depicting a series of sexual assaults. Identification enquiries and confirmation from the victim proved that she was the person in the footage. Consequently, Cosgrave was charged with rape and assault of a female by penetration.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Cosgrave had kept the recordings of his attacks as “sick trophies” on his devices. Portsmouth Crown Court heard from Detective Constable Vicki Bousfield and Detective Sergeant Beth Marshall, who led the investigation and praised the survivor for her “extraordinary courage” in coming forward. The judge noted that the premeditated nature of recording the assaults was an aggravating factor that demonstrated a profound lack of respect for the victim’s dignity.
The judge noted that Cosgrave had pleaded guilty to both counts, which spared the victim the ordeal of a full trial. For his actions in Landport, Portsmouth, he was handed a substantial custodial term to reflect the “unfathomable damage” caused. The prosecution reported that the successful conviction served as a clear message that reports of sexual violence will be taken seriously by the authorities, regardless of how much time has passed since the incident.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Stuart Lionel Cosgrave was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 10 and a half years in prison.
- Extended Licence: Five years of mandatory supervision following release.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court following full guilty pleas.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Cosgrave is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Hampshire Constabulary and the prison estate. Due to the “predatory” nature of the rape and the digital recordings made in Landport, Portsmouth, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Cosgrave must comply with notification requirements regarding any future residence in Fyning Street, Landport, for the rest of his life. Authorities state that his history of recording sexual assaults necessitates permanent and intense scrutiny of his digital activity and any devices in his possession upon his eventual release. Any breach of his registration conditions, his five-year extended licence, or his licence terms will result in immediate arrest and a return to Portsmouth Crown Court.
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