A man from Hastings has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of raping a woman while she slept, Sussex Police have confirmed.

Nathan Ackerley, 28, of School Road, Hastings, attacked the woman after taking her back to his home. The victim woke up during the assault, managed to escape, and immediately reported the crime at a police station.

Arrest and Charges

Sussex Police quickly located and arrested Ackerley on suspicion of rape. During their investigation, officers found incriminating evidence on Ackerley’s phone, including pictures of the victim taken while she was asleep.

A police spokesperson stated, “A search of his phone found he had taken pictures of the victim while she was asleep. He was subsequently charged with rape, sexual assault by touching, sexual assault by penetration, and voyeurism.”

Conviction and Sentencing

On Friday, July 19, Ackerley was convicted of all charges. He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on Monday, July 22, with a minimum period of two-thirds of the sentence to be served.

Ackerley was also given a restraining order against the victim and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Victim’s Statement

Following the sentencing, the victim expressed her gratitude for the support she received from Sussex Police. She said, “I would like to thank Sussex Police for their continued support, and I hope other victims feel they can come forward. I aimed to prevent this from happening to someone else in the future, and hopefully, we have achieved this.”

Police Response

Detective Sergeant Ella Cook praised the victim’s bravery and determination. She said, “The victim in this investigation showed incredible bravery to report this horrific ordeal to the police and support this process through to its conclusion. She has been clear that her intention was to stop this from happening to someone else, and, thanks to her, a dangerous man is behind bars where he can cause no further harm to the public.

DS Cook continued, “I would like to thank this courageous woman and all involved in this investigation for their support and outstanding work. We take all reports of sexual offending extremely seriously and are committed to ensuring victims are supported while we do all we can to hold perpetrators to account.”

Appeal for Victims

Sussex Police are urging any victims of sexual offences to come forward and report their experiences. “If you are a victim, please report it to police online, via 101, or by dialling 999 in an emergency,” the spokesperson added.