STEWART WINTON

A man aged 73 has been convicted of raping a woman with learning difficulties at his home in Argyll.

Stewart Winton, who is in his 70s, assaulted the woman—who is in her 40s—at his residence in Oban during a time when his wife was absent, between April and June 2013.

He was detained after the woman reported the incident to her support worker, although Winton argued that she had given consent to the sexual act.

His sentencing was deferred, and bail was granted pending further court proceedings.

At the Glasgow High Court, it was disclosed that Winton, a former soldier, committed the offense while his 43-year-long wife, who is wheelchair-bound, was not at home.

Prosecutor Kath Harper explained that the woman’s care workers state she can follow instructions when prompted, but finds it difficult to learn new tasks without assistance, and her learning disability would be evident if spoken to.

The court noted that her IQ is in the lowest 4% of the general population and that she experiences notable impairments in social awareness, danger recognition, and self-care.

Winton claimed ignorance of her disabilities and maintained that she consented.

The victim was described as someone eager to please others and get along, but she clearly communicated her discomfort during the incident, telling Winton to stop and pushing him away.

Despite her desire to avoid confrontation, her vocal refusals indicated she did not want to have sex.

During police interviews, Winton admitted the act, calling it a foolish mistake and suggesting he might have forced her, saying, “My wife wasn’t in at the time and she didn’t seem to bother.” He initially denied that intercourse occurred.

His military career included service in Cyprus and Northern Ireland, after which he worked as a chef until retirement.

The judge, Lady Scott, ordered him to register as a sex offender and released him on bail with a sentencing date next month, citing his age and responsibilities as his wife’s main carer.

She warned Winton that, given the gravity of his conviction, imprisonment was likely and instructed him not to approach the victim.