The judge said Wilkinson assaulted the woman with some "blunt-force" instrument, and sexually violated her, much of the evidence being in a bloodied vehicle found by police at the rear of a property in Waipukurau after investigators dismissed Wilkinson's claim that on the night he had another vehicle, which he presented to police in a "pristine" condition.
He'd also claimed that he'd last seen the woman on the night when he left her for her to walk home alone.
Crown prosecutor Steve Manning said that what became particularly aggravating was that afterwards Wilkinson took the victim to her home and placed her in bed, ignoring the presence in the house of the woman's mother in a room next-door.
Even in speaking with the mother he made no mention of the victim a few hours later, and made no attempt to get her help, which was not given until after the mother found the woman in the bed the following afternoon.
On bail after being charged, Wilkinson breached the conditions by contacting the victim, and then in remanded custody rang her from jail in an attempt to manipulate her and dissuade her from giving evidence.
Her evidence at the trial was given in the form of a recorded evidential interview with police after her treatment for her injuries.
Defence counsel Eric Forster said the offending was a major break from the history of a man regarded as a hard worker, with a minor record in which the most serious offence appeared to be one of common assault.
Forster, who did not act for Wilkinson at the trial, said severe intoxication and some jealousy appeared to be at the centre of the attack.