A former film student who repeatedly raped two women and sexually assaulted a third while they were asleep has been warned he faces a potential life sentence.Â
Connor Yaxley, 30, claimed he was ‘dreaming’ when he had sex with two women, arguing that he was unaware of his actions.
He was found guilty of all charges after a nine-day trial at Norwich Crown Court.
HIS SEX CRIMES
Yaxley, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, had denied three counts of rape against one woman between December 2017 and December 2019, two counts of rape against a second woman between April 2018 and August 2020, and the sexual assault of a third woman in August 2020.
The jury took just six hours to convict him on all counts.
The first victim told the court that Yaxley had used the excuse of being asleep on multiple occasions. Another woman described waking up twice from a deep sleep to find Yaxley having sex with her, despite having previously told him she did not want to engage in sexual activity.
During the trial, the prosecutor, Andrew Thompson, emphasized that consent requires freedom and capacity, neither of which is possible when a person is asleep. He argued that Yaxley’s actions demonstrated a refusal to accept ‘no’ for an answer, describing his behaviour as that of a rapist.
Judge Andrew Shaw, who presided over the case, described the offences as ‘extremely serious’.Judge Shaw said he had ‘the gravest of concerns’ about Yaxley and would be considering not just a ‘very lengthy custodial sentence’, but also ‘potentially a life sentence’.
VICTIMS IMPACT STATEMENT
The first woman told the court that Yaxley had used the excuse to her that the sex had happened while he was dreaming more than once.
Another time she claimed that the former film studies student told her that he had accidentally penetrated her while they were both asleep.
The first victim told the court that Yaxley had used the excuse of being asleep on multiple occasions.
Another woman described waking up twice from a deep sleep to find Yaxley having sex with her, despite having previously told him she did not want to engage in sexual activity.
READ ALSO – Germany PLANS to deport immigrants who carry out knife attacks after Solingen stabbing killed three
During the trial, the prosecutor, Andrew Thompson, emphasized that consent requires freedom and capacity, neither of which is possible when a person is asleep.
He argued that Yaxley’s actions demonstrated a refusal to accept ‘no’ for an answer, describing his behaviour as that of a rapist.
Judge Andrew Shaw, who presided over the case, described the offences as ‘extremely serious’.
Judge Shaw said he had ‘the gravest of concerns’ about Yaxley and would be considering not just a ‘very lengthy custodial sentence’, but also ‘potentially a life sentence’.
The first woman told the court that Yaxley had used the excuse to her that the sex had happened while he was dreaming more than once.
Another time she claimed that the former film studies student told her that he had accidentally penetrated her while they were both asleep.
