February 2015 A sex offender raped a 15-year-old girl in a bathroom – as his friends stood outside laughing The victim and her friend were plied with alcohol for around nine hours after being invited to a Stoke-on-Trent house. She was then raped by Erik Capory as one of his friends held her down. Now the rapist has been jailed for 11 years after a jury took just 50 minutes to convict him of the offence yesterday. Judge David Fletcher told Capory: “This was a sustained incident and there was humiliation because when this rape had taken place there were men standing outside the bathroom laughing. “She was a dishevelled and frightened little girl when she returned home to her parents. “From the minute these girls arrived at that house they were given alcohol and you were under no illusion as to the age of either of them.” Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Capory, of Oliver Road, Penkhull, raped the girl in 2013 after her friend had left the property. Judge Fletcher added: “You knew she was drinking and that she was becoming more and more affected by drink. “In the early hours of the morning this young woman was taken into the bathroom and forcibly raped by you. Your DNA was found and she was left to run home on her own.” During this week’s trial, Capory argued that his victim had been willing and was the instigator. But the jury convicted Capory. Anis Ali, defending, said: “He expresses genuine embarrassment for the devastation he has caused his family through this conviction. “There is no doubt this sentence will have life-changing consequences. “Given his age, he is of good character, this is his first conviction and his first custodial sentence. “He found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. It doesn’t excuse his behaviour, he clearly got involved, but that may demonstrate a certain lack of maturity.” Capory must spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register.