A MAN violently raped a devout Christian more than 40 years ago, ransacked her home and left her scared of being alone.

Kenny Wells and another man broke into the home of Violet Brown, in Collingbourne Ducis, on November 6, 1980.

Wells, 63, subjected Ms Brown to a “violent rape” before telling her to remain in her bed and locking her inside.

Wells, of Verona Road, Salisbury, appeared at Winchester Crown Court today (Friday) to be sentenced after he had previously pleaded guilty to burglary, rape and false imprisonment.

Prosecuting, Kerry Maylin said that 71-year-old Ms Brown lived alone since the death of her sister.

Ms Maylin said: “She (Ms Brown) followed her usual routine ensuring every window and door was locked and settled into what should have been an undisturbed sleep, however, for her in the early hours of that morning she was awoken with a light shining into her bedroom and two men entering it through an adjoining room.”

The prosecutor said the men wore stocking masks and told her that they were the police before asking for money.

They had cut the telephone line and one said: “don’t try and jump out the window or I will put the gun to you".

When the other man left the room, Wells told Ms Brown “I’m going to rape you” and placed his hand on her throat.

The men left and Ms Brown remained in her bed until 4.20am before she went downstairs. Her front door key was missing and she had been locked in. It was not until 8.20am when the postman arrived was she able to get help.

Wells was arrested at the time but was not charged “due to insufficient evidence”.

After two cold case reviews in 1999 and 2005, in 2020 officers from the Major Crime Investigation Team reopened the case.

Semen from the bedsheet was found to be “a billion times more likely” to come from Wells than any other man. He was arrested in June this year.

Ms Brown died in February 1996, at the age of 87, without seeing her attacker brought to justice, but her nephew had written a statement about how the crime had "ruined her life".

He said: “She was a devout Christian and very much involved with church activities where she lived.

“Prior to the rape in 1980 Violet was a strong, happy, confident woman. 

“After the incident Violet left the cottage she loved so much and moved in with her sister down in Devon.

“She became fearsome and nervous; she lost her independence completely. It is really important to state that Violet could never be left alone, she had become a bag of nerves.”

In mitigation, Gareth James said that any sentence imposed “is going to be devastating for Mr Wells and his family” as his wife has been given a life-changing diagnosis which means “he will miss the conclusion of his married life”.

It is not known if any action has been taken against the other man.

The sentencing hearing will continue at the same court on Monday.