'The worst violation a husband can commit': man jailed for rape and coercive control of wife

A 48-year-old Portuguese man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction on charges of rape and coercive control. Sergio Correia of Front Street, Ardara, County Donegal, was found guilty by jury of two counts of anal rape and one count of coercive control. The offences occurred during 2019 against his wife, who waived anonymity to allow his identification. Justice Melanie Greally imposed nine-and-a-half years on each rape count with the final eighteen months suspended, and two-and-a-half years concurrent on the coercive control charge, backdated for time in custody. The judge ordered Correia to engage with probation services, attend domestic abuse and sexual abuse programmes, and participate in addiction counselling and Alcoholics Anonymous. A contact prohibition regarding the victim was also imposed. The court noted mitigating factors including the absence of prior convictions and some evidence of remorse, balanced against the serious nature of the offences and findings regarding his limited insight and moderate reoffending risk in relationships.