Man Convicted of Rape and Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

James Ratcliff, aged 36, of Shawfield Close, Sutton Hill, Telford, has been convicted of rape and sentenced to five years in prison.

Ratcliff was found guilty by a jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Tuesday 4 May and sentenced on Friday 2 July. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

The offense took place on 24 November 2018 in Oakengates, Telford. The victim was walking away from a nightclub with a friend when Ratcliff approached her.

After talking to her briefly, he led her away from her friend and into an alleyway where he raped her. A report was made to the police and Ratcliff was arrested a short while after the offense took place.

Following the conviction, Detective Sergeant Jon Taylor said: "We welcome this conviction and I hope it offers some comfort to the victim who bravely came forward so we could investigate the offense fully. Despite these types of incidents being rare, I hope this conviction will provide reassurance to all our communities that we will always investigate sexual offenses and do everything we can to bring offenders to justice."