I HAVE great respect for Ken Clarke. He is a politician who says what he thinks, even if his view is unpopular, or contrary to party policy.

Unfortunately, his recent remarks have reinforced the common misconceptions that some rape is not serious, and that “date rape” is less serious than rape by a stranger.

For example, suppose a woman invites a man back to her house for a drink after a night out, and the man wrongly assumes he is being invited back for sex. If he then rapes her, this could be as devastating as any other rape, as it is aggravated by the betrayal of trust and the abuse of hospitality.

What the Justice Secretary, and the judiciary in general, need to understand is that a woman has an absolute right to refuse sex with anyone, at any time, under any circumstances.

It was only in 1991 that Britain finally arrived in the 20th Century, and made it a crime for a man to rape his own wife.

That was a step in the right direction, but it’s the 21st Century now, and there is still a way to go.

Pete Winstanley, Darlington.