Ricky Sparks has been sentenced to four years and seven months in prison for raping his ex-partner. The %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_0%% took place at her home address on December 28, 2021.
Sparks, 43, of Buckhurst Crescent, Walcot, was sentenced at Swindon Crown %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_1%% on Friday (05/07) after his application to change his guilty plea to rape to a not-guilty plea was dismissed.
He was charged with %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_2%% in early 2023. However, Sparks later accused his counsel of pressuring him into %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_3%%. A hearing on May 3, 2024, dismissed Sparks' application to withdraw his guilty plea.
Sparks was %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_4%% indefinitely, given an indefinite restraining order, and ordered to pay a £190 surcharge.
In a statement read to the court, his victim said: “I am so grateful to %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_5%%, in particular Detective Constable Alex Doughty and the Crown Prosecution Service for believing in me and supporting me. The relief I felt when his guilty plea wasn't overturned was immeasurable. I finally have my life back. I have survived, and I can move on to becoming me again.”
Detective Constable Alex Doughty said: "Mr. Sparks has done everything he could in this case to make everyone else out to be a liar and to make himself come out on top. Today I am glad to see him finally be convicted as a rapist and receive a %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_6%%. His victim has been so incredibly brave throughout this %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_7%% investigation, and I wholeheartedly commend her for coming forward to report such a personal and horrific crime. I hope she inspires other victims to come forward and report to the %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_8%%. Please remember there is support available, including from the %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_9%%. You are not alone."
If you've been the victim of %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_10%%, there are many different ways you can report it to the police. You can call us on 101, or 999 in an emergency. If you'd like to report online, rather than %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_11%% by telephone in the first instance, you can securely and confidentially report rape or sexual assault to us online. Or if you'd like to speak to an officer in person, we can provide a safe and comfortable environment at any of our %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_12%%.
