Man raped and assaulted women in their sleep

Yaxley was also sentenced to an additional eight years on extended licence, which will follow his prison term

A man has been jailed for 14 years for raping two women and sexually assaulting a third.

Norfolk Police said Connor Yaxley targeted the women while they were sleeping.

The 30-year-old, of Sandown Road, Great Yarmouth, was convicted of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a trial at Norwich Crown Court and was sentenced on Friday.

One of his victims described him as the "bogeyman".

'A phantom fear'

Police said, in one instance, a woman woke up to find the defendant raping her. Yaxley claimed he had no recollection and must have been dreaming at the time.

Another woman was raped at his address when she refused to have sex with him, detectives said, and she claimed he raped her as she slept on previous occasions.

He sexually assaulted the third woman as she slept in an armchair at his home, the force added.

The offences took place between 2017 and 2020.

In a victim impact statement read out at court, one woman said: "It feels like there's a bogeyman constantly on my shoulder, like a phantom fear which is difficult to explain.

"I still can't sleep all of the way through the night."

Yaxley was also sentenced to an additional eight years on extended licence following his prison term.

He will be on the Sex Offenders Register and subject to a sexual harm prevention order for life.

Following the sentence, investigating officer Det Con Dylan Thomas urged other victims of sexual offences to report them to the police.

The force said the Harbour Centre - the county's sexual assault referral centre - could be contacted for free on 01603 276381.