There are two references to date rape.
The first is confused terminology - he was talking about consensual sex between people either side of the age of consent.

In the second he is talking about date rape, he claims it is 'confusing' and distinguishes it from 'the worst rapes'.

It's a fairly clear statement that he doesn't regard date rape as being as serious as rape by a stranger. Which is massively out of touch with reality.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 19 May 2011, 16:40, 1 reply)

Clarke: And they include date rapes which, eh, date rapes can sometimes be very confusing.

Dunno, I think the above is ambiguous. It's unclear in which way he meant it's "confusing".

However -

Clarke: Date rape can be as serious as the worst rapes. But date rapes, as you are quite right to say very old experience, of being in trials, they do vary extraordinarily one from another and in the end the judge has to decide on the circumstances...

Possibly this is what he meant be "confusing" - if drugs or alcohol are involved, it might be harder to prove the absence of consent. But in any case, that's more a problem in ascertaining guilt/innocence.
( rofl harris, Thu 19 May 2011, 16:49, closed)

Quite.
He was a QC. He knows the difference between proving guilt and determining the severity of a crime. At least I hope he does.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 19 May 2011, 17:19, closed)