A MAN convicted for raping and indecently assaulting a woman in west Dorset about 20 years ago has been jailed for four years.

Keith Charles Starling, aged 56, was found guilty of rape and three charges of indecent assault following a trial at Dorchester Crown Court.

The charges related to an incident that occurred in the 1990s, which was recorded on video camera.

The court was told how a video had been found allegedly showing Starling raping the complainant and indecently assaulting her on three occasions while she was apparently unconscious.

Prosecutor Rufus Taylor said in his opening address to the jury: “She’s either drugged or she’s drunk, in any way she’s sparked out.”

He added: “Not only did she not consent, she had no capacity to consent because of her mental state.”

Mr Taylor said that the victim was sickened when she was first made aware of the footage some years later.

He said: “She felt physically sick, she had absolutely no recollection of this ever happening and was unable to give any explanation as to how she came to be so unconscious.”

Giving evidence to the jury, the woman said: “I was totally shocked and disgusted. I didn’t even remember taking part in it.”

Starling, from Tiverton in Devon, denied the offences, claiming the defendant was a willing participant in what took place, that she had been pretending to be unconscious and was aware it was being filmed.

He said: “It was consensual between two adults.”

Starling also denied ever drugging the complainant.

When the woman was asked in cross examination if she was a “willing participant” in what had taken place, the woman said: “Absolutely not.”

After the jury found the defendant guilty on all counts, the court heard that Starling had been interviewed in relation to the offences in March 2013 and was summoned to appear at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court but failed to attend.

A warrant was issued for his arrest but Starling managed to avoided arrest until late 2014 and has been in custody ever since.

Tim Shorter, mitigating, described Starling’s as a “unique” and “very unusual” case.

Judge Jonathan Fuller said there was not sufficient evidence for him to be sure whether Starling had deliberately set out to drug the victim or get her drunk. However, He added: “I deal with it on the basis that because she was in that state for whatever reason you did take advantage of her.”

Judge Fuller said he was satisfied the offences amounted to an “isolated” incident but recognised the “pain and anguish” it must have caused his victim.