ROSS WYBORN'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN ILFRACOMBE: SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND CHILD SEXUAL OFFENSES

In June 2020, a disturbing case unfolded involving Ross Wyborn, a man with a troubling criminal history, who committed a heinous assault in Ilfracombe. The incident, which took place in the victim’s home, resulted in Wyborn being sentenced to additional years behind bars after the Court of Appeal deemed his original sentence to be unduly lenient.

Wyborn, now aged 25, broke into the residence while the woman was taking a bath. Unbeknownst to her, he entered through an insecure door, and at the time, her two-year-old daughter was peacefully asleep in her own room. The woman, hearing suspicious noises, got out of the bath and wrapped herself in a towel to investigate the disturbance. It was then that Wyborn forcefully dragged her to the floor, subjected her to a sexual act, and ultimately raped her.

During the assault, the victim’s young daughter woke up and came out of her room, witnessing the terrifying scene. Wyborn, in a violent act, shoved the child back into her room and slammed the door, continuing his attack on the woman. The trauma inflicted was compounded by the fact that Wyborn was already a registered sex offender with two prior convictions for sexual activity involving a 13-year-old girl. He had been released from prison just 39 days before the attack, which occurred in May of the previous year.

At the time of his release, Wyborn had been out of incarceration for less than six weeks. His criminal record also includes nine previous convictions for burglary, and during the period between his release and the assault, he was reportedly engaging in partying and drug use, including cannabis and cocaine. On the night of the attack, Wyborn was under the influence of these substances.

Wyborn’s DNA evidence linked him to the crime, yet he attempted to deny his involvement and sought to tarnish the victim’s reputation by making false claims. During the trial, a recording of her 999 emergency call was played, revealing her terror, sobbing, and confusion about her attacker’s identity. Despite her distress, Wyborn was found guilty of two counts of rape, assault by penetration, and assault by battery of the child.

Judge Timothy Rose sentenced Wyborn to a life-long registration on the sex offenders register and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from entering any home alone where a woman resides. The judge emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “This was a truly terrifying experience for the victim. It is quite literally any woman’s worst nightmare, any person’s worst nightmare, to be alone at home and find a stranger outside the bathroom when they are in the bath.”

He further condemned Wyborn’s actions, highlighting that instead of fleeing, he attacked her physically, forced her to the floor, and raped her twice. The judge also criticized Wyborn’s attempts to lie and manipulate the situation, including false accusations that the victim was involved in a consensual relationship and was receiving money for sex, which he described as “absolute nonsense.”

Wyborn’s criminal history is extensive. In January 2018, he was jailed for two years and four months for engaging in sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16. At that time, he was 21 and had previously been convicted of similar offenses involving a 13-year-old girl. His prior convictions also include multiple burglaries. Currently, Wyborn is serving time at HMP Channings Wood in Newton Abbot, where he remains incarcerated for his ongoing crimes.

In summary, Ross Wyborn’s criminal record and recent violent offenses have led to a significant increase in his prison sentence, reflecting the court’s view of him as a dangerous offender. The Court of Appeal’s decision to extend his sentence to 15 years with a five-year license extension underscores the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to the community in Ilfracombe and beyond.