Colchester rapist Shaun Western jailed after attack in 2018

Shaun Western, now 24, raped his victim who had been put to bed with a sick bowl next to her after a night in Walkabout, Head Street, and was “nine out of ten drunk”.

The complainant woke up screaming “get out, get off” after being awoken by Western having sex with her in autumn 2018.

Western, of Edward Paxman Gardens, Colchester, then put his shoes on and ran out of the flat as others inside the property rushed to the victim’s aid.

Rape - Shaun Western, 24, raped a woman after a night out in Colchester (Image: Essex Police)

The defendant denied rape but was convicted after a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court returned an 11-1 majority verdict in March.

He was sentenced to six and a half years behind bars this morning.

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Judge Timothy Walker said: “She was extremely drunk; she was clothed and unaware of what you were doing to her until she woke up.

“You took advantage of her when she was in that vulnerable state and unable to do anything about it.”

Night out - Western spent the night with his victim in Walkabout, Head Street (Image: Newsquest)

During the eight day trial the jury was told Western, then aged 19, and the victim headed to a friend’s house at about 2am after spending a night out together.

The court heard the complainant was “intoxicated to the extent she was falling over on the way home”.

Western, however, was described as just “two or three out of ten” intoxicated.

The victim was then put to sleep with a sick bowl placed beside her on the bed while her friends retired to the living room.

Crime - a previous incident in Head Street (Image: Newsquest)

She would later awaken to find Western on top of her, having sex with her.

Christopher Kerr, prosecuting, told the jury: “She thinks that was what woke her up.”

The defendant claimed to the police during an interview that the pair initially started having consensual sex before the victim “began to drop off again” so he “got off her”.

The jury rejected the notion the sex was consensual.

Adam Budworth, mitigating, said character references suggested Western is a “good man”.

He added: “His friends say he is a hardworking, kind, caring and helpful man and a good father to his daughter.”

Judge Walker imposed an indefinite restraining order prohibiting Western from contacting his victim.

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