A DRUNKEN man who forced an 18-year-old student to have sex with him has been jailed for 11 years.

Martin Winser, aged 41, was found guilty by a jury at Exeter Crown Court of raping the woman twice on the same occasion in early 2014 at his home in North Devon.

Factory manager Winser had separated from his wife a few months earlier and was drinking heavily at the time the offences took place.

He was cleared of raping the woman on an earlier occasion when they had both gone to his home after a night out and of a further charge of forcing her to take part in a sexual act with him.

Winser, of the Old Rice Mill, Lifton, denied four counts of rape but was found guilty of two and jailed for 11 years by Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, at Exeter Crown Court.

The judge told him: ‘I have read the victim’s personal statement and it is clear this had a devastating effect on her. It was a complete betrayal.

‘She was utterly confused and felt trapped. The trauma you have caused her is beyond words.’

During a three day trial the prosecution alleged Winser took the girl by surprise on the first occasion when she was frozen with fear and confusion. He went on to overpower her and forced her to have sex on the other occasions.

The jury was read a transcript of an interview which he gave to the police before he asked for legal advice, after which he made no comment.

He told the police: ‘I know I have done wrong and it is probably going to cost me my relationship and my job and other things, I swear I will be entirely honest.’

Winser told the court there had been no sexual contact with the woman. He said they had been drinking together and had sexual conversations but there was no physical contact.

He said he had sat on a bed with her while they talked after returning to his home but this had not led to the sexual assaults which she had alleged.

He said he had been stressed, upset and confused when he made his comments to the police and had then refused to respond to further questions because of legal advice.

Mr Rupert Taylor, defending, said Winser has started a new relationship since these incidents happened in 2013 and 2014.