Coldstream Guard jailed for alley rape

A COLDSTREAM Guards soldier who “prowled” streets and bars near Windsor Castle on a “reconnaissance mission” before raping a woman has been jailed for 19 years.

The judge, sentencing at Reading Crown Court yesterday, said Connor Brayley, 24, was “looking for a lone female and somewhere to rape her”.

Brayley dragged his victim down an alleyway after a night out, less than 200 yards from the royal residence, before he raped the young mother.

Judge Johannah Cutts QC told Brayley: “Your victim was entitled to be enjoying herself... However, she had the misfortune to come across you. Before you attacked your victim, CCTV footage showed you in a club trying to put your arms around women to touch their breasts and backsides.

“You can also be seen walking around Windsor. I reject your claim you were looking for somewhere to purchase food, instead you were prowling. This was a reconnaissance mission, looking for a lone female and somewhere to rape her.”

Brayley, of Victoria Barracks in Windsor, Berks, originally denied having sex with his victim until DNA evidence was produced.

He claimed the woman begged him to have sex.