Woman in Kent raped in her sleep by man she met on an evening out

A man has been jailed for raping a woman while she slept in a flat in Kent. On August 21, 2021, the victim was walking in Gravesend when he met Rhys Cheal.

She had planned to go to a friend’s house at the end of the evening, but Cheal, who had followed her, took the opportunity to accompany her to a taxi. When the woman’s friend wanted to accompany her, Cheal dissuaded them, saying he would take her home as she was feeling ill.

Instead, he took her to an address in Longfield. She went to sleep there and later woke up to find Cheal raping her.

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The next morning, the distraught victim called a friend who came to pick her up. Cheal confessed to his crime over the phone and the victim later reported her ordeal to Kent Police.

Cheal, from Longfield, was arrested on December 3 and subsequently charged with rape. The 26-year-old pleaded not guilty at Woolwich Crown Court and was found guilty following a trial on Friday, June 21. He was sentenced to four years and six months in prison on the same day. He will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Detective Constable Stephanie Wilson, of the North Division Rape Investigation Team, said: “This man committed an appalling crime by taking advantage of a vulnerable young woman. Under the pretense of being concerned for her welfare, he prevented her friends from accompanying her and then took her to an address where he raped her.”

“He is now beginning a prison sentence and I would like to commend the victim who had the courage to report the crime and then assisted our investigation until Cheal was brought to justice.

“I would urge anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to contact us as soon as possible. We have trained officers who will take steps to keep you safe and then ensure that the offenders cannot harm others.”

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