NEIL ROBERTS SHOCKS GLOUCESTERSHIRE WITH BRUTAL CRIME IN WINCHCOMBE
A 50-year-old man from Winchcombe, Neil Roberts, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after committing a series of heinous acts against a woman in Gloucestershire.The incident, which took place in October 2021, involved a disturbing combination of theft, coercion, assault, and sexual violence that left the victim emotionally and physically scarred.
Roberts, who resides on Godwin Road in Winchcombe, was found guilty by a jury earlier this year after a trial held at Cirencester Courthouse.
The court heard harrowing details of the events that unfolded on the night of October 10th, 2021, when the woman agreed to spend an evening with Roberts, drinking and listening to music at his home.
What initially appeared to be a casual social gathering quickly turned into a nightmare for the victim.
According to court proceedings, Roberts began questioning the woman about her personal relationships, specifically whether she was seeing other men.
When she refused to hand over her mobile phone, Roberts forcibly took it from her, accusing her of having an affair.
The woman explained that her phone was locked, requiring facial recognition or a PIN to access, and Roberts repeatedly waved it in her face, attempting to unlock it.
Despite her efforts to prevent him, she eventually relented and provided the unlock code.
Once he gained access, Roberts spent approximately an hour browsing through her phone.
When she requested its return, he refused, mocking her and calling her derogatory names such as 'slut' and 'cheat.' In her attempt to retrieve her belongings, the woman pushed Roberts and slapped him in the face.
His response was violent; he punched her, causing visible injuries.
It was during this assault that Roberts made an appalling demand: he told her that if she wanted her phone back, she would have to perform oral sex on him.
Despite her protests and pleas to simply have her phone returned, Roberts insisted that she comply with his demand.
She relented out of fear and desperation, and after the act, he handed her the phone back.
The woman described feeling humiliated and overwhelmed, sitting on the floor with her belongings after the incident.
Roberts then attempted to justify his actions by claiming that he thought they were engaging in role play and that he believed she was enjoying it.
In his own defense during the trial, Roberts claimed that after drinking San Miguel beer for several hours, they went into his bedroom around 1 a.m., where she allegedly initiated the oral sex as an apology for an earlier argument.
He denied any violence or coercion, asserting that she became angry afterward and pulled on his penis, causing a bruise.
Roberts further claimed that she started punching him, hitting him multiple times in the head.
Throughout the trial, the jury unanimously convicted Roberts of both charges—rape and assault causing actual bodily harm.
Since his arrest, Roberts has been held on remand and appeared via video link from Bristol Prison for sentencing.
The victim delivered a powerful impact statement, describing her feelings of humiliation, worthlessness, and self-blame.
She expressed relief that Roberts was finally held accountable and shared her hope for her future recovery, stating, “I can admit to myself that I have been raped and that it isn’t my fault.
Only now do I feel I can truly start to live my life again and enjoy it.” Roberts’ solicitor, Sarah Jenkins, highlighted that her client had no prior history of sexual offenses, with only a previous conviction for violence in 2006.
She emphasized that Roberts’ incarceration would significantly impact his family, including his ailing father and his young daughter in Thailand, who also suffers from illness.
Jenkins noted that Roberts had struggled with alcohol issues at the time of the offenses but had since undergone detoxification and enrolled in educational courses while in prison.
During sentencing, Recorder Jaron Crooknorth expressed his disapproval of Roberts’ lack of remorse, pointing out the extent of the victim’s injuries—bruises, swelling, scratches, and emotional trauma.
The judge described Roberts as a danger to the public and ordered that he serve at least two-thirds of his eight-and-a-half-year sentence before being eligible for parole.
Additionally, Roberts was reminded that he will be on the sex offender register indefinitely and must inform authorities of any changes to his personal details, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the lasting consequences he faces.
