Ireland Man jailed for 10 years for raping former wife
Joseph Jessop, a 45-year-old man, was convicted of raping and orally raping his estranged wife, Tracey Jessop, and of assault causing her harm, with offences dated from November 2020 and March 2021; the first assault took place in the family home, began as a row and left her hospitalised. She complained to gardaí, and after Jessop denied all charges a jury convicted him at the Central Criminal Court, with the key facts giving the conviction as 2 February 2021 and the trial as last May. He was jailed for 10 years, reduced from a headline sentence of 11 and a half years for mitigating factors, with the sentence backdated to his conviction, and the latest report, dated 24 July 2026, says he was jailed that day.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Joseph Jessop, 45, was convicted of rape, oral rape and assault causing harm against his estranged wife, Tracey Jessop.
- Where
- The first assault took place in the family home; the articles give no exact date or county for the offences, and the case is listed under County Westmeath.
- When
- The assault causing harm is dated November 2020 and the rape conviction relates to an offence dated 29 March 2021.
- Cause
- The first assault began as a row between the couple.
- Other details
- The victim was hospitalised after the first assault.
- After the attack, Jessop contacted the HSE and social services and made complaints about the victim, which she told the court she had to fight as false allegations to Tusla.
- Jessop has six previous convictions, the most serious for common assault.
- Tracey Jessop waived her right to anonymity so that Joseph Jessop could be named.
- Investigation
- The woman made a complaint to gardaí.
- In court
- Jessop denied all the charges, and the trial took place at the Central Criminal Court last May.
- The key facts give the jury's conviction for rape and oral rape as 2 February 2021, while also saying the trial took place last May; the sources do not reconcile these dates.
- Sentence
- Jessop was jailed for 10 years, after a judge set a headline sentence of 11 and a half years and reduced it for mitigating factors.
- The sentence was backdated to when Jessop was convicted, which the key facts give as last May.
- The article text dates the sentencing to 24 July 2026, while its metadata gives 1 July 2026.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe first assault took place in the family home and began as a row. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe woman made a complaint to gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
- courtA jury convicted Jessop of rape and oral rape of his estranged wife on 2 February 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJessop was also convicted of raping his wife on 29 March 2021 and of assault causing her harm in November 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJessop had denied all the charges. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial took place at the Central Criminal Court last May. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJoseph Jessop was jailed for 10 years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 11-and-a-half years, reduced to 10 years for mitigating factors. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when Jessop was convicted last May. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe victim was hospitalised after the first assault. (thejournal.ie)
- otherJessop contacted the HSE and social services and made complaints about the victim after the attack. (thejournal.ie)
- otherJessop has six previous convictions, the most serious for common assault. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Jul2026Woman raped by her then-husband tells court she had to fight ‘false allegations’ to Tusla
Sentencing hearing report, including the victim's impact statement. The article gives no exact date or county for the offences, which the jury convicted for in 2020 and 2021.
convicted, Joseph Jessop, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Jessopvictim, Tracey Jessop, female, irish (judged from name)Tracey Jessop