Bristol photographer jailed after drugging and raping men lured with promises of photo shoots

A "predatory" photographer, who lured men to his home with promises of photo shoots before drugging them and raping them, has been jailed. Perverted Nigel Brent Wilkinson from Bristol plied at least three men with drinks laced with sedatives – with police believing there could be more victims.

The 43-year-old was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years at Bristol Crown Court after admitting two counts of rape, three counts of administering a drug with intent to rape and two counts of possession of a prohibited substance.

Wilkinson was effectively caught red-handed when, after being investigated for offences against one man, police arrived at his home to find another victim asleep there. The court heard how Wilkinson took young men drinking before taking them to his home for photo shoots.

He then spiked their drinks with sedatives and had sex with them whilst they were unconscious. Investigating Det Con Stacey Matthews said that Wilkinson had a "predatory nature".

"The men would often stay at his home and throughout their visit he would ply them with alcoholic drinks, some of which were laced with sedatives," she said according to the BBC. "While they were in a drugged state, Wilkinson's predatory nature would prevail and he'd commit sexual acts on them without their consent."

A probe began when police were contacted by the concerned girlfriend of a victim that had sent her a text saying he may have been drugged. Police found the victim inside Wilkinson's home and when he was taken to hospital, sedatives were found in his system.

Police visited Wilkinson again three months later to arrest him for the previous incident and discovered a second victim.

"When they arrived, they found a man asleep on the sofa. He was also taken to hospital and there was evidence he'd been drugged and raped," said Det Con Matthews.

"On the surface, Nigel Wilkinson was a photographer with an interest in male fitness models. In private, he was a cunning sexual offender who used his photography enterprise as a cover and catalyst for his deviant activities."

The police investigation also unearthed a third victim who was also found to have traces of sedatives in his system. "We believe there'll be more victims who haven't yet come forward and I'd urge them to do so," said Det Con Matthews.