A couple has been sentenced to prison for the rape and sexual abuse of an 18-year-old woman.

James Owen, 55, and his partner Ellen Rea, 52, groomed the teenager for several weeks in 2021 and carried out the attack after inviting her to their home in Salisbury.

Owen was convicted of rape, two counts of sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault, while Rea was found guilty of sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault. after a trial in May.

At the verdict on Friday at Winchester Crown Court, Owen was sentenced to eight years in prison and Rea to two years in prison.

The court was told that the couple had exchanged text messages outlining their intentions.

Owen, a personal trainer, first sexually abused the woman between January and February 2021 under the pretext of training sessions.

The couple also conspired to sexually abuse the woman by inviting her to their home for dinner on February 6, 2021 and giving her alcohol.

They persuaded her to get into a hot tub with them before Owen raped her and Rea sexually assaulted her, the court was told.

Det Con Martyn Powell of Wiltshire Police said: “James Owen and Ellen Rea conspired to abuse the trust of a young woman.

“Their horrific acts were driven by their own selfish desires, without even a moment’s consideration of the long-term consequences this abuse would have on their victim.

“I would like to pay tribute to the courage of the young woman who worked with us to bring these two perpetrators to justice and hope that she can find some comfort in the long prison sentences handed down today.”