A Rugby man has been jailed for seven and a half years after admitting raping and drugging a woman.

A woman in her 20s was out in Warwick on 21 July 2023 when she was approached by an unknown man.

The man – Connor Ratcliffe – plied her with drugs and alcohol over the course of the evening before carrying out what a judge described as "a sequence of predatory acts" that culminated in him raping her in a secluded car park.

Officers soon arrested 30-year-old Ratcliffe, who was later charged with two counts of rape and supplying a controlled drug of class A – cocaine.

Despite initially denying the offences, he eventually changed his plea at a hearing in March.

Appearing at Coventry Crown Court on Thursday (23 April), he was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for the rape and six months for the drug offence to run concurrently. 

Ratcliffe, of Yates Avenue, was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Detective Constable Sacha Bury said: "This has been very traumatic for the victim who has shown immense bravery since the outset. 

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"Her life has been hugely impacted by what happened, but I hope knowing Ratcliffe is now behind bars will provide some comfort as she tries to come to terms with it all.

"I hope his conviction also reassures other victims of sexual offences and gives them the confidence to report their ordeal knowing they will be listened to and supported. We will always investigate and do everything we can to bring offenders to justice."