Man Jailed for 25 Years Over Horrific Rape Spree in Portsmouth and Gosport
A 38-year-old man, Louis Charles Cann, has been slammed with a 25-year sentence for a shocking series of rapes targeting two women across Portsmouth and Gosport. Cann, from Rampart Row, Gosport, faces 20 years behind bars plus a 5-year extended licence.
Brutal Attacks Spanned 10 Months
Cann was convicted at Salisbury Crown Court of nine counts of rape following a trial that kicked off in May 2024. The assaults happened between February and December 2022, and disturbingly, both victims knew him.
The court heard chilling evidence, including footage of one victim being raped while asleep. The other woman endured verbal abuse, threats, and physical assault after rejecting Cann’s sexual advances.
Judge Condemns “Humiliation, Degradation, and Manipulation”
At sentencing on August 22, His Honour Judge Adam Feest KC blasted Cann’s “humiliation, degradation, blackmail, and manipulation” during the attacks. He described one victim as being treated “like a rag doll,” highlighting the lasting trauma left in the wake of Cann’s crimes.
Cann also received a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must register as a sex offender for life.
Detective Praises Victims’ Bravery, Urges Others to Speak Out
Detective Sergeant Samantha Brown from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s specialist sexual offences team saluted the victims’ bravery. She said: “These women were degraded, manipulated, and assaulted in the most appalling way. Nonetheless, they have shown incredible courage in standing up to this cowardly individual.”
DS Brown urged other survivors of sexual violence to come forward, promising: “You will be believed, and we will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice.”
