A JUDGE has condemned the actions of two men convicted of rape, stating they believed they had a “sense of entitlement”.

Stuart Milne, 37, was sentenced to 12 years for the rape of an 18-year-old woman in St Nicholas Gardens, Whitehaven.

Thirty-year-old Terry Parry was sentenced to 10 years for rape.

There was little emotion from either man as Judge Peter Hughes QC described how the pair had taken advantage of a “vulnerable” woman in the town on the night of June 29 last year.

During an eight-day trial, the jury was told the young victim had repeatedly tried to call police during her terrifying ordeal.

She had met Milne and Parry, of separate address on Bow Fell Road, Whitehaven, earlier in the evening and, Judge Hughes said, that Milne had bought her drinks, but that she had not shown an interest as he tried to kiss her and stroke her hair.

Greg Hoare, defending Milne, said that he was a man of previous good character who had “worked hard all his life” and has two young daughters.

He said: “He is going to prison for the first time and has no experience of the system.

“He has found HMP Durham a very uncomfortable place.”

Judge Hughes said: “It’s always a tragedy for those who are in no way involved in what happened but have to suffer the consequences.”

He added: “One thing I am struggling to understand is how two reasonable men in their 30s, with young daughters, are prepared to go out and have casual sex with someone they have only just met and, in your case, someone they did not know.

“You thought you had a sense of entitlement.”

Judge Hughes also described how Parry had been aware of the actions carried out by the pair.

He said: “She [the victim] heard Terry Parry say ‘Big mistake’ – or words to that effect. How right you were.

“You knew what both of you had done. As you walked away you said to Stuart Milne ‘You will be getting done for rape’.

“That was not a throwaway remark as you claimed. It was a true reflection of the situation.

“When you were arrested you said “what did I tell you?”