Rapist locked up thanks to courage of victim and witnesses

A rapist has been jailed after his ‘despicable’ actions were bravely exposed by the underage girl he targeted.

Winston Virtue exploited his vulnerable victim by giving her drugs and alcohol before raping her at a Nottingham house.

The attack took place in 2022, with his teenage victim telling someone what the 64-year-old had done to her a few days later.

He was then arrested and charged with rape, thanks to the girl making the brave decision to talk to the police.

Virtue continuously lied about what happened – denying he’d had any sexual contact with the victim at all, or that he knew how old she was.

Following a two-and-a-half-week trial last November, he was found guilty of rape, with a sentencing date set for this afternoon (31 October).

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court, Virtue, of Rushworth Close, St Ann’s, was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

He was also made subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will have to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.   

Detective Sergeant Julie Salisbury, of the Child at Risk of Exploitation Team (CaRE Team) at Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“I’d like to praise the immense courage of both the victim and the witnesses involved in this case for helping expose Winston Virtue.

“It is no exaggeration to say we wouldn’t have been able to secure a conviction against him without their help, so we’re extremely grateful.

“Virtue’s despicable actions caused so much damage, with his decision to then lie about it meaning people had to relive what happened during a lengthy trial.

“It is to their absolute credit that the victim and everyone involved in this case had the strength and courage to persevere with the criminal justice process.

“Their behaviour could not be any further away from that shown by Virtue, who has thankfully now been outed as a rapist and will spend several years of his life behind bars.”