Derek Rowley – Gillingham

A Gillingham rapist who drugged and repeatedly abused a man he met online has been jailed following his death.

On Tuesday 21 May 2024, the 61 year old victim went to Derek Rowley’s home address in Beatty Avenue, Gillingham after arranging to meet online.

During the afternoon, both men took a cocktail of drugs, including crystal meth, ketamine and GHB before engaging in consensual sex.

CCTV from Rowley’s bedroom captured the entire incident and showed at 5pm the victim became unresponsive. Rowley is seen to administer a liquid from a syringe into the victim’s mouth before raping him numerous times.

This continued until 9.38pm when Rowley was seen to go downstairs to tell his relative someone had died in his bedroom. An ambulance was called at 9.53pm and when paramedics arrived they confirmed the victim was deceased.

Rowley was arrested at the scene and later charged with 11 counts of rape and administering a substance to stupefy. He denied the offences but a jury at Maidstone Crown Court found him guilty on all counts.

On Thursday 5 March at the same court, the 45 year old was jailed for 17 years.