Gary Conibear

A Tidworth man, Gary Conibear, aged 33, has been imprisoned for 90 months following his conviction for rape at Winchester Crown Court. The incident occurred in June 2022 during a social night out in Tidworth, where Conibear met the victim while playing pool and drinking with friends.

The court heard that after the evening, Conibear offered to walk the woman home. Both fell asleep on her bed, fully clothed. She awoke to discover Conibear raping her while she was asleep, an act that violated her consent entirely.

The trial took place in July 2025, following an initial hung jury. Judge Rufus Taylor delivered the sentence on 6 October 2025, imposing 90 months' imprisonment—equivalent to seven and a half years—and an indefinite restraining order barring Conibear from any direct or indirect contact with the survivor.

In a poignant personal statement read to the court, the survivor detailed the profound impact of the assault: 'No words will ever truly capture how these last three years have broken, changed, and reshaped me. [...] The assault didn’t just happen in a moment. It echoed. It infected every part of my life. I stopped leaving my house. For 18 months, I was locked away from the world, gripped by fear, shame, and agoraphobia.' She emphasised the lasting trauma, including self-blame and isolation from family and friends.

Detective Constable Sue Ellway, the lead officer from Wiltshire Police, commended the survivor's courage: 'I would like to recognise the courage of the survivor in this case, who has had to endure an unimaginable personal struggle [...] Despite this, she has managed to find the strength to work with us to help bring this offender to justice.' Ellway highlighted the importance of consent, noting that it cannot be given if a person is asleep or lacks capacity.

This case underscores the severity of sexual offences involving non-consensual acts, with Conibear's actions leading to significant deprivation of liberty as a consequence. The information is sourced from the official Wiltshire Police news release dated 9 October 2025.