Man raped woman with learning disabilities

Vernon Steele has been jailed for eight years after attacking the woman inside her home.

A man who befriended a woman with significant learning difficulties before raping her multiple times has been jailed.

Vernon Steele met the woman in 2023 and visited her regularly, telling her neighbours he was helping with chores and keeping her company. A neighbour later found the woman distressed and crying in her flat and she disclosed Steele had raped her.

Steele, 60, from Tewkesbury, was found guilty four counts of rape by a jury at Gloucester Crown Court in June and sentenced to eight years in prison on 11 July.

Det Con Jon Furse, from Gloucestershire Police, praised the victim for her bravery and encouraged anyone who had been assaulted to report it to police.

"Our specially-trained officers will listen and you will be believed and supported every step of the way," Mr Furst added.

A month after befriending the woman, Steele showed her pornography on his phone and a video of him masturbating, the court heard. The woman did not want to see it, did not like it, and told Steele to stop.

Steele raped the woman in her bedroom a few days later. He went on to rape her in her home a further three times over the next 10 days.

After being charged, Steele failed to appear at a court hearing and a judge had to issue a warrant for his arrest.

He denied any wrongdoing but after his trial a jury took just 34 minutes to unanimously find him guilty of all charges.

As well as being sentenced to eight years in prison, Steele will be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Sentencing Steele, Judge Rupert Lowe said: "You conceived that this vulnerable woman might be an outlet for your sexual frustrations.

"You showed her sexual video material on your phone but she didn't want to see it.

"You were not to be deterred by her lack of enthusiasm for this and you got her into her own bedroom... and had sexual intercourse without her consent which is an offence of rape."