For years, Zoe Watts believed she had found the ideal partner.
Her husband, Ben, regularly surprised her with thoughtful gestures, booked pampering appointments, and even prepared her a cup of tea before bed each night.
To friends, family and members of their church community, they appeared to have an enviable marriage.
Looking back, however, Zoe says those acts of affection concealed years of manipulation and abuse that she never imagined were taking place.
Nightly Ritual Was Used to Conceal Abuse
According to Zoe, the bedtime tea her husband faithfully prepared became the method through which he secretly drugged her over a period spanning at least nine years.
She later discovered he had allegedly mixed sleeping medication into the drink before sexually assaulting her while she was unconscious.
During that time, he also recorded photographs and videos of the assaults without her knowledge.
As Zoe struggled with persistent migraines, brain fog and overwhelming fatigue, she says her husband dismissed her concerns as stress and presented himself as a supportive partner willing to ease her burden.
Health Problems Raised Questions She Could Not Answer
The unexplained symptoms became a constant part of Zoe’s life.
Medical appointments, prescribed medication and even MRI scans failed to reveal the cause of her deteriorating health.
She also experienced recurring infections that doctors were unable to explain.
Unknown to her at the time, the sleeping medication being used had originally been prescribed for one of their children, with Ben reportedly taking responsibility for collecting the prescription before administering it to his wife instead.
A Confession Changed Everything
The turning point came in 2018 when Ben told Zoe he had something important to confess.
She expected to hear about an affair, but was left stunned when he admitted not only to cheating on her but also to sedating her so he could have sex with her while she slept.
Even after hearing the confession, Zoe says she struggled to identify herself as a victim of rape, explaining that years of emotional manipulation made it difficult to fully grasp the reality of what had happened.
Family Intervention Led to Police Investigation
Months later, after opening up to her sister about the confession, Zoe’s family contacted police.
Officers explained that a person who has been drugged cannot legally consent to sexual activity.
That conversation marked the beginning of a criminal investigation.
Ben was later arrested after returning to the family home, and authorities eventually secured charges against him despite a lengthy legal process that at one stage appeared likely to collapse due to insufficient evidence.
Jury Convicts Husband Following Court Trial
The case was eventually heard at Exeter Crown Court in 2022.
During the proceedings, prosecutors outlined allegations that Ben had repeatedly drugged his wife and sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious over many years.
Evidence presented during the trial also revealed claims that he had photographed and filmed the abuse and, on some occasions, restrained her while she was incapacitated.
The jury found him guilty of rape, assault by penetration and administering a substance with intent to overpower another person in order to facilitate sexual activity.
He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Case Drew Comparisons With Gisele Pelicot Investigation
Zoe says public awareness of drug-facilitated sexual assault changed significantly following the widely publicized case involving French survivor Gisele Pelicot.
While she believes Pelicot’s courage helped expose a form of abuse that had long remained hidden, Zoe notes that similar crimes occurring within marriages often receive far less public attention.
She says society frequently focuses on attacks committed by strangers, overlooking the reality that sexual violence can also occur within intimate relationships.
Campaign Aims to Raise Awareness
After waiving her legal anonymity, Zoe launched the #EndEyeCheck campaign to educate the public about drug-facilitated sexual assault and the recording and sharing of abuse involving unconscious victims.
She hopes speaking publicly will encourage other survivors to come forward while increasing awareness among healthcare professionals, investigators and the wider public.
According to Zoe, dozens of women have since contacted her describing experiences they believe were similar to her own, reinforcing her belief that these crimes occur more often than many people realize.
