Ipswich man jailed for 12 years for raping his neighbour

The details: Keith McKenzie, of Bond Street, Ipswich, was found guilty of two counts of rape by a jury on 23 February 2026 following a five-day trial. He was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, 28 May.

The court heard that McKenzie and the victim – a woman aged in her 20s – were neighbours at a block of flats but were not otherwise known to each other.

In the early hours of the morning, the victim was awoken by knocking at her front door and called a friend who lived in the same block to assist. When she answered the door, McKenzie asked for a cigarette, which her friend gave him before returning to their own flat.

McKenzie then entered the premises despite the victim's objections and raped her, before leaving and threatening her against telling anyone. He was arrested the same morning.

The sentence: The 12-year term will run consecutively to a sentence imposed last year for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. McKenzie has also been made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

What they're saying: In a Victim Personal Statement read aloud in court, the victim described the lasting impact of the attack. "Emotionally, I feel violated, ashamed, and overwhelmed…I have struggled with guilt, even though deep down I know none of this is my fault," she said. "I wake up each day carrying the weight of something I never asked for and never deserved."

DC Victoria McNamara, from the Safeguarding and Investigations Unit and the officer in charge of the case, said: "This was a profoundly distressing incident for the victim, who has shown immense courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation.

"What should have been the safest place for her and her child was violated and the impact of that cannot be overstated. Since the incident, the victim has lived in constant fear, struggling with anxiety, sleep disturbance, and a loss of trust."

She added: "Offences of this kind will be taken extremely seriously. If you come forward, you will be listened to and supported."

The bottom line: McKenzie will serve at least 12 years behind bars for the attack, on top of his existing sentence, after a jury found him guilty of two counts of rape.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of rape or sexual assault, the Suffolk Survivor Pathway offers a single access point to multi-agency support, including six specialist services. Visit suffolksurvivorpathway.co.uk for more information. Always call 999 in an emergency.

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