‘Crying’ rapist sentenced to eight years for attacking sleeping woman

A man who raped a woman in her sleep has been convicted after she secretly recorded him apologizing in a conversation afterwards.

When the woman woke up she found 31-year-old Simon Nash having sex with her. The woman later told police she “went into a state of shock” and pretended to be asleep throughout the ordeal, which took place several years ago.

She pretended to wake up and then told him that she was actually awake when he raped her. Teesside Crown Court heard Nash then “attempted to convince the woman that the entire sexual encounter had taken place in her head”.

On Friday, prosecutor Shaun Dodds told the court that Nash “gaslighted” his victim when she asked why she had been stripped of her clothes.

Mr Dodds said: “He told her that she had asked him to take off her pajama bottoms. ‘Remember, remember,’ he said.”

When the woman confronted Nash, she recorded what he said on her cell phone and asked him, “Why would you do something like that?” Nash repeatedly said he was sorry, and the woman took her recording to the police and he was arrested.

Nash was convicted of rape by a jury in March following a trial. He has previous convictions for assault and affray – he left behind a family who feared for their lives.

In mitigation, Paul Abrahams said Nash “has suffered in prison, he is desperate and has made an attempt on his own life. However, this is hardly mitigation as it is all his own fault.”

Appearing via video feed from Durham Prison with his neck bandaged, Nash cried throughout the sentencing.

Judge Peter Makepeace told him: “You denied that the recording was of you when it clearly was. They kept saying “sorry” and had an aggressive tone.”

Nash, of Borrowby Court in Guisborough, was sentenced to eight years in prison – he will serve two-thirds of the sentence before being eligible for release on licence. A restraining order was issued against him, prohibiting him from ever contacting the victim again. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

Speaking after the verdict, Detective Constable Joanne Shepherd of Cleveland Police said: “The victim showed amazing strength and courage in reporting what had happened to her and I would like to thank her for her courage and unwavering support throughout the trial.”

“I am pleased that justice has been served today and hope that the victim can find some comfort in knowing that Nash cannot harm anyone.

“If anyone would like to report an incident, whether for themselves or on behalf of someone else, I would urge them to contact Cleveland Police on 101.”

You can report an incident to Cleveland Police at any time online via our website or by calling 101.