Man guilty of raping sleeping woman

Daniel Smith was found guilty of multiple sexual offences on Friday

A man has been found guilty of raping a woman while she slept.

Daniel Smith, from Ladywell Close, North Leigh, in Oxfordshire, was convicted of rape and sexual assault by a jury at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

The 45-year-old was also found to have breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Investigating officer Det Con Hemns said while it had "been a lengthy process to get to this point", the woman had "stayed strong" especially as Smith's not guilty pleas meant she had to "relive the trauma" in court under cross examination.

Wiltshire Police said Smith raped his victim while she slept at a property near Swindon in November 2023.

Just over a month later, he targeted the same victim, climbing into the same bed against her consent, where he groped her.

"I hope that after two years, today's verdict can give her the chance to start to heal and move forward, without this still overshadowing her everyday life," Det Con Hemns added.

Smith is due to be sentenced in January and was remanded in custody.