A man has been jailed for five and a half years after sexually assaulting a woman while she was asleep on a sofa following a party.
Che Phillip, 44, previously of Bedford and now of Brunswick Place, Hove, assaulted the woman as she slept. She woke up, realised what was happening, pushed him away, then left in a taxi and called the police.
Phillip was found guilty of sexual assault and jailed on Thursday (18 December). The judge said forensic evidence in the case was extremely strong, that he had targeted a particularly vulnerable victim and that he had shown no remorse.
Victim praised
Detective Constable Amy Dewar from Bedfordshire Police said: “This was a shocking and predatory act that violated the victim’s trust and safety, leaving her with severe psychological harm, including flashbacks of what happened.
“We commend her courage in coming forward and reporting what happened. Sexual assault is never acceptable, and we will continue to work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice and support victims.
“It is never too late to report a crime, and by doing so, you are helping us to bring these dangerous perpetrators to justice.”
Bedfordshire Police say tackling male violence against women and girls remains a key priority, with dedicated teams working alongside partner agencies to improve safety across the county.
Victims of rape and sexual assault can receive support and guidance from police and partner organisations, including the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and Bedfordshire Victim Care Services (BVCS), as well as specialist support through any criminal investigation.
More information about how to report sexual offences and the support available is on the Bedfordshire Police website under Male Violence Against Women and Girls (MVAWG).
