Man jailed after admitting rape of woman

Al Winfindale was sentenced at York Crown Court on Friday

A man has been jailed for five-and-a-half years after admitting raping a woman.

Al Winfindale, of Ewart Street in Scarborough, raped a woman who was known to him in September 2022, York Crown Court heard.

Winfindale, 39, was also placed on the sex offenders register for life when he was sentenced on Friday.

Det Con Nicholas Burton, from North Yorkshire Police, said it was a "horrendous crime".

He said: "I would like to pay tribute to the victim who has shown incredible strength at both reporting this horrendous crime and supporting this investigation.

“We urge any victim of sexual assault or rape to please come forward, no matter when it happened, you will be listened to.

“We know it can be difficult, but we have specially trained officers who will support you."

North Yorkshire Police said the victim was "left feeling violated, degraded and completely worthless" following the attack.

"More than a year later she still remains shaken by the memory of the incident and has yet been unable to tell her loved ones what happened to her," the force said.

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