An Arnold sex offender who raped an underage girl has been jailed.
Conner Dilkes, aged 18, assaulted the girl in July 2023 and was arrested soon afterwards.
Dilkes was interviewed several times and gave inconsistent accounts.
In his first interview, he denied knowing the girl and insisted he had never met her.
However, CCTV and forensic evidence proved otherwise, and he went on to plead guilty to two counts of rape in relation to the attack, which happened in an overgrown area in Daybrook.
Dilkes, of Oxclose Lane, Arnold, also admitted theft, assault by beating, and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place in relation to an unconnected incident in June last year.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, he was jailed for four and a half years.
He was also added to the sex offenders’ register for life and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order that will tightly restrict his activities once he is released.
An indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting his rape victim was also imposed by the sentencing judge.
Detective Sergeant Alan Braisby, who investigated the July 2023 attack, said:
“The victim in this case has suffered considerable distress, and I am pleased her attacker has now been brought to justice.
“Rapes and other sexual assaults have a lasting impact on victims and are among the most serious offences we are tasked with investigating.
“When incidents like this are reported to us, we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice – as Dilkes has found out to his cost.
“I am pleased he has now admitted to these appalling offences and is now behind bars.”
