John Rollason 70

Description

A convicted rapist groped a woman and offered her cash for sexual favours. Horrible John Rollason, aged 68, has been found guilty by a jury of assaulting his victim.

She was left "disgusted, shocked and angry", a court heard. He was jailed 30 years ago for raping a woman after coshing her over the head and driving her to Dartmoor.

A judge has adjourned sentence for the new offence for probation and medical reports - but warned that he could be going back to prison. Rollason, a grandfather, has Type 2 diabetes and carries around an oxygen cylinder, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

The victim told the court that Rollason put his head into her chest and put his hand down her top, holding her close so that she could not break free.

Ed Bailey, opening the case for the Crown Prosecution Service at the start of his trial this week, said: "She felt disgusted, shocked and angry by what happened." He added: "He offered her some cash if she would let him continue."

The court heard that she managed to escape and fled the scene. The barrister said that she told some of her family and friends what had happened but did not call the police until more than 18 months later in August 2020.

Rollason, of Southern Close, Weston Mill, denied sexual assault on November 29, 2018. He claimed that he had put his head to her chest by accident - but admitted that he had complimented her on her breasts. Rollason denied groping.

He argued that he had a "smutty sense of humour" and was a "Benny Hill" type in reference to the risque comedian popular from the 1950s to the 1980s. But Rollason was found guilty by a unanimous verdict by the jury in less than two hours.

Judge Robert Linford released him on bail to return for sentence on April 13.

He told the defendant: "The fact that I am ordering reports and readmitting you to bail is no indication whatsoever of the sentence you will receive. You may leave and meet your wife outside."

Earlier, Mr Bailey had told the jury that Rollason had been jailed for six years for rape in 1992 - which the panel had not heard about during the trial. He said: "He was in Union Street posing as a taxi driver. He collected a female fare, drove her up to Dartmoor, coshed her over the head and then raped her."