Latest Offenders

Description

A man who sexually assaulted two women on a crowded train in Fife has been jailed, following a British Transport Police investigation.

Jamie Muir, 33, and of James Street in Dunfermline, was sentenced at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday 29 April to nine month's imprisonment and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Assault.

The court heard how on Sunday 16 November 2025, Muir boarded a train from Inverkeithing to Edinburgh that was extremely busy due to a rugby match between Scotland and Argentina later in the day at Murrayfield.

Muir stood behind two women, and only minutes after the train left Inverkeithing he began to sexually assault both women, using the crowd to disguise his actions.

One of the women turned to Muir and challenged his actions, with Muir in turn apologising and claiming not to know where he was.

Other passengers on the train intervened, encouraging Muir to leave the train at the next stop. He then left the train at North Queensferry.

Once the train arrived at Edinburgh Waverley, the two women reported the incident to officers at the station and an urgent investigation was launched.

Images of Muir were shared with other police forces in a drive to identify him, and he was subsequently identified and arrested.

Upon being arrested, Muir attempted to excuse his actions by saying he had felt unwell.

DC Crawford Gillies said:

"Muir's actions were opportunistic and sickening, so I'm very pleased with the sentence handed down to him that should provide him ample time to consider his actions.

"There is absolutely no place for this type of behaviour anywhere on the railway network, and we take every report of this kind of behaviour seriously.

"If you ever need us while you're travelling on the railway, you can discreetly text us on 61016. Our officers can meet the train at the next station, and we’ll stop at nothing to bring sexual offenders to justice.”

Description

A registered sex offender has been jailed after he breached a strict court order.

Police visited Vincent Flemons, 53, after the team in charge of managing sex offenders discovered he was breaching orders in place around him.

Flemons was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in July 2025 following previous convictions for offences involving children.

The SHPO stated he must not install, download, or use any instant messaging service which does not save internet history without obtaining prior written consent.

Thanks to monitoring software on Flemons’ phone, officers received a notification in February that he had downloaded a social media app which does not record chat history, and without receiving prior consent.

The SHPO further stated that any device Flemons used must retain all internet history, and that he must notify police of any change of home address within three days.

A further search of Flemons’ device revealed that he had also deleted several apps, including Instagram and Twitter, from his phone, and been staying at a property in Waterbeach without alerting police, both further breaching the conditions of his SHPO.

On Thursday (7 May), at Huntingdon Law Courts, Flemons, of no known address, was jailed for one year for two counts of breaching a SHPO and one count of failing to comply with Sex Offenders Register notifications, which he admitted.

DC Sonia Kauser, who investigated, said:

“Flemons was well aware of the conditions of his SHPO, but decided to breach them anyway.

“I’m pleased that he has now faced justice, and I hope this case shows how committed we are to managing sexual offenders and ensuring they comply with court orders.”

Description

A sex offender from Deal who stored and shared images of himself abusing a young victim has been jailed.

Joshua Mumby, 29, admitted to sexually assaulting a child after originally claiming the images had been manipulated.

Investigation

Kent Police was alerted to his offending in August 2025, when he was found to have uploaded multiple indecent images online and discussed the sexual abuse of children with other internet users.

An investigation by specialist detectives from the force was immediately launched, during which it was established that Mumby had carried out the sexual abuse depicted in the uploaded images.

Charged

He was arrested on 21 August 2025. Further enquiries, which included the examination of digital forensic evidence, found that Mumby had stored more than two hundred indecent images on his mobile phone of his own crimes.

He was charged the day after his arrest and, after originally pleading not guilty to sexual assault, changed his plea before Canterbury Crown Court.

Sentenced

Mumby, formerly of Freemens Way, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and two counts of taking indecent images of children.

He was sentenced at the same court on Thursday 30 April 2026 to a ten year extended sentence, which included six and a half years’ imprisonment, with three and a half years to be served on licence when he becomes eligible for parole.

The offender will be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will need to fulfil notification requirements for the sex offender register for life.

Detective Constable Claire Hall said:

‘This is a deeply disturbing case involving the exploitation of a vulnerable young victim and the sickening behaviour of a depraved individual. The swift work of our specialist officers, whose investigation uncovered the full extent of Mumby’s crimes, should be commended.

‘I’m pleased that this dangerous sexual predator is behind bars and that the restrictions in place at the end of his custodial sentence will serve to safeguard against future offending.

‘I also want to send a clear message to anyone who thinks they can commit offences like this online: you cannot hide behind a screen. We have the capability and determination to track you down, identify you and bring you before the courts. If you are involved in sharing or creating indecent images, you should expect to be made to face the consequences of your crimes.’

Description

A Liverpool man has been jailed for six-and-a-half years for multiple sex offences involving children.

Steven Andrews, 67, of Langdale Road, Aigburth, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Monday 11 May, for causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and five counts of sexual assault.

He was jailed for a total of 78 months.

He was also issued with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

There also restraining orders in place in relation to his victims.

Detective Inspector Louise Johnson said:

“Merseyside Police is committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and stopping those who seek to do them harm.

“We have a dedicated Child & Criminal Sexual Exploitation Team whose sole focus is on protecting young people and bringing perpetrators to justice.

“We urge anyone who is a victim of any form of sexual abuse to please report this to police, and specially trained officers will listen to you and treat you with sensitivity and compassion throughout the entire legal process and beyond.

“We also work with a range of partner organisations who are there to further support victims.”

Description

A woman bizarrely shouted "the defendant does not have herpes" as a teenage rapist was jailed.

Wahidullah Hotak, 18, from Handsworth, forced a 24-year-old intoxicated woman to perform a sex act in the toilet of the Wednesbury shop where he worked.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison with an extended three-year licence at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, May 7, after being found guilty of rape. West Midlands Police released his custody photo.

The victim had been drinking on February 27 last year when she entered the shop asking to use the toilet. Hotak took advantage of her vulnerable state and attacked her.

In her victim impact statement, she said she was told at a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) she may have HIV or hepatitis. She added that she developed blisters, saying: "They were probably herpes because of the assault."

Herpes is a sexually transmitted infection.

As soon as Hotak’s sentence was confirmed, an unidentified elderly woman in the public gallery stood up and shouted towards Judge Simon Drew KC:

"The defendant does not have herpes."

The judge ordered her to stop and she was ushered out. She was later confirmed to be associated with Hotak.

Hotak, an Afghan national who arrived in the UK in 2023, had one asylum claim rejected but intended to appeal. Prosecutors had believed he was 26 until a document from the Afghanistan Ministry of Interior Affairs confirmed he was 18 at sentencing — and 17 at the time of the attack.

The age ruling reduced his sentence significantly. Judge Drew said it would otherwise have been around ten years. He described Hotak as a "dangerous offender" and told him: "This was a stranger rape and you accept no responsibility for your part in it. I find you pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public as a result of committing further specified — that's serious — offences."

Defending him, Francesca Perera said Hotak had a "difficult upbringing" before fleeing Afghanistan. She stressed she did not wish to diminish the impact on the victim but noted there was "no medical evidence to support the herpes claim."

Description

A 37-year-old Brighton man has been jailed for 15 years for the rape and sexual assault of a child.

Teo Tewson-Bozic, of Buckingham Street, gained the trust of the 14-year-old girl before subjecting her to repeated sexual abuse during 2024.

His crimes were exposed when his victim spoke out to members of her family, who reported Tewson-Bozic’s offending to police via the victim’s school.

Tewson-Bozic was arrested, while the victim and her family were supported by specialist officers.

He was subsequently charged with five counts of sexual activity with a child, four counts of assault by penetration and two counts of rape.

At Lewes Crown Court during hearings on 6 and 21 May, 2025, he pleaded guilty to all counts of sexual activity with a child, but denied the other charges.

At the same court on 2 October, he was found guilty of all the remaining offences.

He was sentenced at Brighton Crown Court, on Friday, 17 April, to 15 years in prison, with another two to be spent on extended licence. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting 25 years and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

Detective Constable Holly Ronaldson said:

“The bravery of the victim was imperative to this case, and I commend her for that.

“My hope is that she will go on to have a happy future knowing she did the right thing coming forward to police.

“The sentence of a 15 years custodial reflects the seriousness of Tewson-Bozic’s offending and I thank the Judge for her consideration when posing this sentence.

“If you are a victim of sexual offending, please report it to the police. We will listen, we will support you and we will do everything we can to get you justice.”

Description

A Rugby man has been jailed for more than ten years after he admitted carrying out multiple child sex offences.

In May 2024 we arrested 46-year-old Christopher Trezise and seized multiple devices after work by our Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team (OCSET) found he had been potentially distributing indecent images online.

Subsequent forensic analysis revealed Trezise was an active member of online networks and forums and regularly talked about abusing children and babies.

We also discovered he had more than 1,000 illegal images on his devices, and he had been sexually communicating with a child as well as arranging to meet an offender to sexually abuse another child.

He was charged with:

• Arranging/facilitating the commission of child sex offence – sexual assault of a child
• Making indecent photograph of a child – Category A
• Making indecent photograph of a child – Category B
• Making indecent photograph of a child – Category C
• Possessing extreme pornographic image
• Distributing an indecent image of a child – Category A
• Distributing an indecent image of a child – Category B
• Distributing an indecent image of a child – Category C
• Engaging in sexual communication with a child

Having pleaded guilty at a previous court appearance, Trezise was jailed on Thursday (7 May) at Warwick Crown Court for ten years and six months.

He was given an extended licence period of four years having been identified as a dangerous offender by the courts.

Trezise was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 15 years and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Jag Gill said:

“Trezise is a prolific offender who thought the anonymity of the internet would mask the despicable level of his offending.

“The extreme level of content recovered from his devices was horrendous, and demonstrated a clear pattern of repeated and intentional behaviour and this severity was reflected in the length of his sentence.

“Our focus is the safety of children and the needs of victims. We will relentlessly pursue suspects like Trezise and anyone who uses the internet to groom, coerce, threaten, exploit or share abusive material involving children – working with partners and using all available investigative powers to bring offenders to justice.”

Description

A high-risk registered sex offender has been jailed for more than three years after breaching a court order aimed at stopping him from accessing indecent images of children online.

Richard Over, aged 43, was caught with a forbidden tablet hidden under his duvet, then told police: “I’m an idiot.”

A search history-concealing internet browser and dark web software were found installed on the device. 

Over, of Marazion in Cornwall, was originally convicted of making indecent images of children in 2017 and again in 2024 - for which he received suspended prison sentences.

He was also made the subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in December 2023.

Officers from Devon & Cornwall Police’s Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) team arrested Over following a visit to his home in April 2026.

He admitted five breaches of his SHPO between 17 December 2025 and 5 April 2026  and was sentenced to three years and two months in prison at Truro Crown Court.

The court heard Over had been convicted of breaching his SHPO on seven occasions since September 2023.

He had also breached his registered sex offender notification requirements seven times in the same period, the judge was told.

Over had been barred from buying or using any device capable of accessing the internet without first notifying police.

The SHPO also stipulated any such device should be able to retain and display its online history.

Over was also prohibited from deleting his internet search history and required to make any devices available for officers to inspect.

The order also banned Over from using any software which enables anonymous online activity and from password-protecting any devices or files without permission. 

An unannounced visit by officers to Over’s home on Sunday 5 April 2026 uncovered a PIN-locked tablet hidden under his duvet.

When officers unlocked the device, a private internet browser and gateway application to access the dark web were found installed on it.  

He told officers he ‘didn’t use’ the private browser and the dark web application was ‘for checking about the war’.

Police Constable Ross Waite said:

“This offender made a sustained and deliberate effort to bypass strict court orders designed to protect children and limit his access to the internet.

“Despite being fully aware of the restrictions placed upon him, he chose to conceal a device, install software to hide his online activity, and attempt to access the darkest corners of the internet.

“Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are in place to manage risk and safeguard the public, particularly the most vulnerable.

“Breaching them is not a technicality – it is a serious offence that demonstrates a clear disregard for the law and for the safety of others.

“We will continue to robustly monitor and pursue those who attempt to evade these restrictions and take swift action to bring them before the courts.”

Over was sentenced on Friday 8 May.

Description

A Penzance man has been jailed for over four years for inciting a child into sexual activity online.

Christopher Stevens, of Chywoone Hill in Newlyn, appeared at Truro Crown Court on Friday 8 May where he was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment.

The 65-year-old pleaded guilty on 13th April to causing/or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard how Stevens had been in contact with the child over a dating app before moving over to a messaging app where explicit content was shared. It was only when the child’s father looked through her phone that contact ceased and the police were immediately alerted.

On sentencing, Stevens was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for a period of 10 years, placing strict restrictions on his internet use and contact with children upon release. He was also placed onto the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. 

Investigating officer Detective Constable Emily Distin said:

“This case highlights the serious risks posed to children in online environments and the determined efforts of law enforcement to identify and prosecute those who seek to exploit young people.

“This emphasises the importance of parents, carers and guardians remaining vigilant to children’s online activity and encouraging open conversations about internet safety.

“Anyone with concerns about child exploitation or inappropriate online behaviour is urged to report it to police or via the appropriate safeguarding channels below.”

Description

A convicted sex offender who attacked a lone woman in Cambridge has been jailed.

Cameron McNally, 26, began following the woman in Devonshire Road at about 8.20pm on 31 January.

The victim noticed his shadow as he trailed her from behind and she turned onto Mill Road where she still felt she was being followed.

McNally, who had his hood up, overtook her and withdrew cash at the Sainsbury’s ATM. Then, while she walked along Emery Street, he grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth with his hand.

He touched her before running off towards Mill Road while the victim screamed.

She called police and McNally was arrested on 3 February.

McNally was already known to officers after being convicted in March 2023 of sexually assaulting a woman on a bus the month before. 

On Thursday (7 May), at Cambridge Crown Court, McNally, of Fortescue Road, Cambridge, was jailed for 20 months, having pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and handed an indefinite restraining order against the victim.

In her impact statement, the victim said McNally’s assault had had a “lasting impact” on her and she felt “paranoid” about walking on her own.

She said it had affected her social life, and she now felt “restricted” by what she could do on an evening.

DC Will Kerslake, who investigated, said:

“McNally carried out what must have been a terrifying attack for the victim, and he is clearly a danger to women.

“I’d like to praise the victim for her bravery in coming forward and helping us with a prosecution. I hope this sentence gives her some sense of closure to this traumatic period of her life.”

Description

A man has been jailed for 13 years after Greater Manchester Police’s Cold Case Unit linked him to the indecent assault and attempted rape of a 74yearold woman in Stockport from more than 30 years ago.

The conviction follows a renewed cold case investigation and advances in forensic science that allowed evidence from 1992 to be reexamined.

Aron Traynor, 56, of London Road, Stockport, was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday 8 May 2026 for the violent indecent assault and attempted rape of a woman in 1992.

The victim, who has since passed away, was attacked by a stranger while walking near her home. Despite extensive forensic work at the time, no suspect was identified.

The case remained under active review. In 2005, the Cold Case Unit commissioned further forensic analysis, producing a nearcomplete DNA profile that was added to the National DNA Database, but no match was found at that time.

A breakthrough came when a DNA sample taken from Traynor following an unrelated arrest for drink-driving in August 2023 matched the profile developed by the Cold Case Unit, finally bringing longawaited justice for the victim’s family.

 In October 2023, the Cold Case Unit was formally notified of the match, and Traynor was arrested shortly afterwards.

A fiveday jury trial in March 2026 found him guilty on both charges.

Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Hughes said:

“Time is quite simply no barrier to justice.

“Today’s sentencing shows that we never close investigations into serious violent or sexual offences. DNA is crucial, but it’s the painstaking work of our officers - revisiting evidence, tracing witnesses, and rebuilding the investigative picture - that ultimately brings offenders to justice.

“Offenders should be in no doubt that forensic science continues to advance, and every interaction they have with the criminal justice system increases the chance of their crimes being uncovered.

“I’d like to thank the victim’s family for their support and cooperation in this case. Although the victim sadly has not lived to see justice served, I hope this sentence gives her family a sense of peace that the offender has been held accountable.”

A statement from the victim’s son was read in court, describing the devastating and lasting impact the attack had on his mother’s confidence, independence and wellbeing. He said the assault changed her life profoundly and affected the whole family.

GMP remains committed to tackling violence against women and girls and ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice — no matter how much time has passed.

Description

Superdry co-founder James Holder, 54, has been convicted of raping a woman.

A 54-year-old man from Cheltenham has been jailed for eight years for raping a woman in her home.

James Holder, of Cheltenham, was found guilty by a jury at Gloucester Crown Court last week of raping the woman in 2022.

He appeared via video link for the sentencing at Bristol Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 7 May).

The court had heard that Holder had gone back to the woman’s flat following a night out on 6 May 2022.

He had been sleeping in her bed while she slept in her living room, but he awoke in the night and attempted to get her to join him. When she refused, he then pulled her to the bed and raped her.

In a Victim Personal Statement, which the victim read to the court, she said:

“Four years to the day since you chose to take what was never yours: my choice, my dignity, my body. Four years since you raped me. I will not soften that word to make it easier for you or anyone else to hear; it belongs to the truth of your actions.

“I am still here, still standing, still reclaiming every part of myself you tried to take. The weight of what happened should be yours to carry, not mine.

“What you did to me did not end that day. It has followed me into my relationships, into the way I try to trust, into moments where connection should feel safe but doesn't. It has cast shadows where there should only be light. I have struggled to see the good in myself; at times I fail to recognise the value I bring.

“The pain and distress of reliving the rape throughout the trial was a stark reminder of the anguish I have been through. It forced me to revisit something I have been trying to rebuild from, again and again. But it also showed the strength it has taken to get to where I am today, and the strength it continues to take as I work towards finding peace with what you did to me.”

Recorder David Chidgey sentenced Holder to eight years in prison, of which he must serve at least two-thirds.

He was also ordered to pay £5,000 towards prosecution costs and a victim surcharge, which has yet to be calculated.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Elle MacLeod who had led the investigation for the Rape & Serious Sexual Offences team (RASSO), said:

“Holder took advantage of a woman in her own home, exploiting her vulnerability, and violating her privacy by committing one of the most devastating offences imaginable against her.

“I would like to commend the survivor in this case for her bravery in coming forward to the Police, her commitment to the investigation, and the way that she fearlessly gave evidence in front of a jury.

"The strength and courage she has shown throughout this process is remarkable; she has not only fought to achieve justice for herself, but she has potentially prevented other individuals becoming victims of sexual violence committed by Holder.

“Although no sentence will undo the damage done by Holder on that night, I hope it goes some way to delivering justice for her.

“I also hope it demonstrates that sexual violence will not be tolerated – no one is above the law, and regardless of your status, wealth, or power, you will be held accountable for your actions.

“I urge anyone who has suffered sexual violence to come forward. I do not underestimate how difficult it can be to report rape and sexual assault to the police, but we have a dedicated team of detectives within Gloucestershire Constabulary who tirelessly investigate these types of offences.

"We work alongside a specialist team of lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service, and together we are committed to securing justice for victims and survivors of sexual abuse.

“If pursuing an investigation through the criminal justice system is not something you wish to do, please be reassured that support is available regardless. The Survivor Pathway is an online resource about sexual violence support services in the South West.

“Finally, to quote from the Victim Personal Statement of the survivor in this case, for anyone who has experienced such violence: your voice matters. Never let fear silence you.”

Description

A Stevenage man has been jailed after pleading guilty at court to stalking offences and sexual communication with children.

Paul Parker, aged 48, of Baron Court, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Friday 24 April where he was sentenced to a total of four years having previously pleaded guilty to:

• Stalking causing serious alarm or distress (32 months)
• Breach of Stalking Protection Order between 3 December 2025 and 12 December 2025 (7 months).
• Two counts of sexual communication with a child between June 2023 and May 2024 (9 months for each count to run concurrently)

The court heard how for around three years, Parker bombarded a woman – who was an acquaintance over 20 years his junior – with thousands of phone calls and text messages while pretending to be someone else, despite the victim asking him to leave her alone.

Menacing texts would describe the victim’s location and clothing, implying that he was following and watching her even when she was at home.

On one occasion the defendant was caught by the victim loitering outside her home at 1am.

While being investigated for the offence of stalking, the courts imposed a Stalking Protection Order which stated Parker must not own, possess or control more than one mobile communication device and that he had to inform police, within three days, of changes to any of the following: telephone number, serial number, IMEI number make and model of any communication device.

When police searched his address in March 2026, they discovered a mobile phone hidden in the loft which he had used to send messages to multiple people. By doing so, he had breached the conditions of the order.

Separate charges involving different victims saw Parker also charged with two counts of sexual communication with a child that occurred between June 2023 and May 2024.

The court heard how Parker had left his phone number in a public toilet in Stevenage, when it was discovered by two young girls who called it. The girls, who were both aged 12, told Parker they were 15, but instead of ceasing contact once he had this information, he bombarded them with phone calls and text messages, most often in the middle of the night.

Stevenage CID Detective Constable Hannah Lambden said:

“The defendant repeatedly asked the children to meet him for sex, which thankfully they never did, but he continued to send obscene messages. We are in no doubt that a dangerous man has been taken off the streets.

“Parker’s actions had a profound impact on the stalking victim’s life; she moved house, changed her phone number, altered the routes she walked, stopped accessing support services and seeing family members – all to avoid being contacted by Parker and out of fear of what he would do if he followed her when she was alone and they came face to face.

“We would like to praise all the victims for their bravery in supporting these investigations which have resulted in Parker’s imprisonment.”

Description

The 46-year-old of Wordsworth Crescent, Chester, had previously been found guilty of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration.

He had also earlier pleaded guilty to intentional suffocation and two counts of assault in connection with an unrelated matter.

The court heard how Griffiths attended a birthday party at an address in Blacon in November 2023.

During the evening, Griffith’s began making sexual comments to the victim, an 18-year-old girl, and touched her inappropriately.

The victim fell asleep at the address later that night and awoke to find Griffiths sexually assaulting her.

The incident was reported to Cheshire Constabulary the next day and Griffiths was subsequently arrested and charged.

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Steve Popplestone said:

“During questioning, Griffiths denied any involvement and tried to undermine the victim’s account, claiming the allegations against him were simply a fabrication.

“He has shown no remorse for his actions throughout this investigation and even made the victim relive her trauma by way of a trial.

“In spite of this, he was rightfully found guilty by a jury thanks to the substantial casefile of evidence gathered against him – which included forensic analysis showing Griffiths’ DNA to be present on the victim’s underwear.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Griffiths was handed a 15-year restraining order and also ordered to sign the sex offender’s register.

DI Popplestone added:

“I would like to thank the victim for her bravery in coming forward and speaking about what happened to her.

“No-one should have to go through what she has been through, and I hope the conclusion of this court process will help to bring her some sense of closure. Although nothing will make her forget what this despicable man did, her evidence and courage has meant Griffiths is now behind bars for a significant length of time, where he can no longer pose a danger to women.

“We will continue to do all we can to tackle any incident of violence against women and take all reports of such crimes extremely seriously and will investigate thoroughly to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”

Description

A man who raped a stranger as she slept on his sofa after a party has been jailed for five years and nine months.

Michael Burns, 56, of South Shields, took the woman back to his flat to collect tobacco to take to a gathering they had both attended. Newcastle Crown Court heard she dozed off on the sofa and woke to find him raping her.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling said the woman did not know Burns but thought he seemed “ok” and had no concerns. She recalled him offering her a sealed can of Coke before she fell asleep.

“She believes she must have fallen asleep because the next thing she can remember is waking up and the defendant was having sex with her,” Miss Dowling said. “She shoved him off and managed to get out of the flat.”

Burns initially told police “she must have done something to him” after his DNA was found on her underwear. The 56-year-old, who has 44 previous offences including causing death by dangerous driving in 1994, later admitted rape.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she lost her confidence, became paranoid and struggled to eat or sleep. She added it was something she would “never really get over”.

Judge Stephen Earl told Burns:

“Rape is a horrific offence, it is an offence which has consequences far beyond the actual act. You committed one of the most horrific offences you can commit against a woman as a man.”

The judge imposed lifelong sex offender registration and a restraining order.

Defence lawyer Claire Anderson said Burns is an alcoholic with mental and physical health problems and plans to move away after his release.

In a letter to the judge, Burns wrote he was “really, really sorry” and wanted to “sincerely apologise” to the victim.