Janis Vizulins 34

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A drunk man filmed himself raping and sexually assaulting a woman while she was passed out through a combination of medication and alcohol. Derby Crown Court heard how the victim repeatedly said no to Janis Vizulins when he tried to have sex with her before she fell asleep but, after she did, he decided to abuse her anyway.

The 33-year-old's victim only realised days later what had happened to her when she saw he had recorded it on her mobile phone. The distraught woman called a friend in tears and was persuaded to contact the police.

Jailing the defendant, of Grosvenor Street, Allenton, for four-and-a-half years, Recorder Graham Huston said: “This was humiliation, she was not aware of what was going on, she was in a particularly vulnerable state because of the effects of the medication. I am not suggesting in any way you plied her with alcohol and medication.

“There was initial consent given for some form of sexual activity between you but there came a time when you continued to assault and rape her without her consent and knowledge and that behaviour goes somewhat beyond what is acceptable.

“By your guilty pleas you rightly have shown regret and remorse and the enormity of your behaviour became clear to you when you realised what you had truly done.”

Gurdial Singh, prosecuting, said the rape took place at an address in Derby in January of this year. He said both parties had been drinking and went to the property where some consensual sexual activity happened.

The prosecutor said: “There came a time when he wanted more and she repeatedly said ‘no’ and asked him to stop requesting but she fell asleep and when in drink he ignored her.

“Days later, when she viewed the video, she contacted her friend on the telephone, she was crying, asking her friend to come round. She said (on the night in question) she had taken some medication and did not consent to that act and so they both went to the police.”

Mr Singh said Vizulins was arrested and at first denied that he had raped her. But he later pleaded guilty to rape and assault by penetration.

He has three previous convictions but nothing relating to sexual activity. Steve Gisnell, mitigating, said his client had provided him with three character references which “spoke of a very different person” to the one who carried out the sexual offences. He said: “He has taken responsibility for what he has done, alcohol had been taken by both parties and he believes that impaired his decision.

“If he had been a sober man with his wits about him this would not have happened. He knows of the dangers of becoming inebriated to such a stage that he carried out this unlawful act. He knows it was an awful offence.”

As well as the jail term, Recorder Huston handed Vizulins a 10-year restraining order not to contact the victim and placed him on the sex offender register for life.