Rugby and Coventry rapists guilty of sex attacks (updated)

Two men carried out a string of sex attacks against women in the Midlands



Peter Livingston Jones, 55, and Raymond Dickens, 53, preyed on vulnerable women and "forced them into prostitution", police said.

They denied all charges against them but were found guilty after a trial at Warwick Crown Court.

A third defendant, 43-year-old Helen Thompson, was convicted of one count of kidnap.

Operation Costa was started by Warwickshire Police's major investigation unit after two victims made allegations against Jones and Dickens.

Det Insp Paul Thompson said: "Over a number of years, Jones and Dickens have taken advantage of vulnerable young women for their own sexual gratification and financial gain.

"They preyed on vulnerable women.

"To start with they flattered them and brought them gifts but this attention soon turned to sexual and physical violence, manipulation and intimidation.

"All this was intended as a way to control them and force them into prostitution."
Jones, of Wheelwright Lane, Coventry, and Dickens had denied all charges.

But a jury found Jones guilty of 11 charges against five victims from the 1990s up to his arrest last year.

This included three counts of rape, one of administering drugs to obtain or facilitate intercourse and one of kidnap.

He was found not guilty of having an imitation firearm.

Dickens, of Langdale Close, Rugby, was convicted of eight offences against three victims in the 1990s - four counts of indecent assault, two counts of rape, one count of procuring a woman to become a prostitute, and one count of false imprisonment.

Jones and Dickens are due to be sentenced on Friday.

Thompson, of Morris Close, Rugby, will be sentenced at a later date.

Prostitution business duo jailed after being found guilty of sex offences spanning more than 20 years

Two men have been jailed for a total of 38 years after being convicted of running a prostitution business.

Peter Livingston Jones, 55, Raymond Dickens, 53, groomed and exploited young women for their own financial gain and sexual gratification.

The men, who were at the heart of a prostitution business in Rugby in the 1990s have been jailed for a total of 38 years.

Some of their victims were just girls when they started to groom them.

Jones, of Wheelwright Lane, Coventry, was sentenced to 22 years in prison with a further eight years to be served on licence.

Dickens, of Langdale Close, Rugby, was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

They were both ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

"In Jones' case, the judge described his actions as 'a campaign of rape' aimed at controlling his victims. He continued to profit from prostitution up until his arrest.

"Jones and Dickens may have thought they had got away with their behaviour; however, today their sordid and violent past has caught up with them.

"These women suffered unimaginable suffering that continues to affect their lives. However, their bravery in coming forward and giving evidence ensured two extremely dangerous men got long prison sentences.

"I hope their bravery and the length of the sentences will give other victims of sexual offences the confidence to come forward. We will investigate and do everything we can to support vulnerable victims and bring offenders to justice.

"I would also like to thank our partner agencies for their assistance throughout this investigation, their support has been invaluable. Partnership working has been key to this investigation."