Grandfather jailed for post-party drug rape (From Surrey Comet)

Grandfather jailed for post-party drug rape

6:59pm Friday 14th March 2008

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A grandfather who drugged and raped a mum-of-two after offering her a lift home from a party has been jailed for 11 years.

John Thorne, 55, of Pullman Gardens, Putney, offered to give the 27-year-old a lift in his car and then gave her a spiked drink that made her pass out.

She woke at his home to find him naked and holding a video camera, asking her to "Smile for the camera" as he attacked her, the Old Bailey heard.

Edna, Thorne's wife of 30 years, was away at the time.

Jurors heard Thorne had threatened to shoot the victim in the head unless she kept quiet and even confronted her brandishing a baseball bat.

She finally reported the rape to police after trying to kill herself. She has been traumatised since the attack and has been staying with her parents.

When she did tell people what happened he twice went round to her address, once armed with a baseball bat and the second time with a knife, to intimidate her.

Thorne was found guilty by a jury of rape, sexual assault, and two counts of affray.

Judge Richard Hayward told him: "These were appalling offences and a very lengthy sentence is necessary. This was an abuse of trust."

He was jailed for eight years for the sex attacks and eighteen months each for the two counts of affray.

Thorne was also placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

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