One of the oldest men ever to be convicted of rape in Britain has been jailed for 14 years today and condemned to die in prison.
Enoch Winchurch, 92, was today convicted of raping two underage girls over 40 years ago.
Winchurch raped his victims when they were between the ages of seven and 14, attacking one in her bed.
The judge at Bradford Crown Court told him he had ‘robbed them of their childhoods’.
After denying the charges throughout, he shouted from the dock ‘Stop lying…You ****** well have…You know you did,’ as he was put behind bars.
Enoch Winchurch, 92, was today convicted of raping two underage girls over 40 years ago at Bradford Crown Court. File image used
The jury found Winchurch, who struggles to walk and is in poor health, guilty of one charge of rape, one of attempted rape, six of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child.
Because of his denial, both women, now in their 40s, were forced to give evidence.
Barrister Giles Bridge, for Winchurch, conceded that his client’s previous good character and age carried little weight in such cases.
He said the defendant’s health problems would mean any prison sentence would be particularly difficult for him.
Jailing Winchurch, from Halifax, West Yorks., Recorder Anthony Hawks said: ‘You continue to deny the offences.
‘You forced those two women, in highly distressing circumstances, to relive their experiences in a public court.
‘Your behaviour has had a devastating effect on the lives of those two women.
‘I have read victim personal statements which they have made in this case but I’ve also had the opportunity to see both of them in the witness box.
‘You robbed those women of their childhood, but in a way it goes further than that because your behaviour, to satisfy your own perverted desires, robbed those two women of a normal happy life.
‘That is the pernicious nature of abusing a child.’
The judge at Bradford Crown Court (pictured) told him he had ‘robbed them of their childhoods’
In their victim statements both women described how they still suffered from flashbacks and said they could not forgive Winchuch for what he had done to them.
PC Mark Nicholson, of Halifax CID, leading the investigation, said: ‘We welcome the lengthy prison sentence which has been handed down to Winchurch today for the abhorrent crimes he committed decades ago.
‘He is a predatory and depraved individual and I would like to praise the victims for their bravery and courage in coming forward and I hope that his conviction and sentencing helps to bring them some closure to them so they can move forward with their lives.
‘Anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse should feel confident in coming forward to the police.
‘We have specialist teams of officers who will take your seriously, deal with you sensitively and do everything within our power to bring those responsible to justice.’