Norfolk student accused of sex attacks on sleeping women

Connor Yaxley, 30, had been studying film studies at the University of Suffolk, based at East Coast College in Great Yarmouth, when he was accused of attacks on three women.

East Coast College, Great Yarmouth (Image: Newsquest) Norwich Crown Court heard all three women - who cannot be named for legal reasons - were asleep at the time of the alleged offences.

Opening the prosecution case on Monday, Andrew Thompson said Yaxley told police he had sex with one of the alleged victims "without knowing because he was dreaming at the time".

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Mr Thompson said a person consents by “choice” and if they have the “freedom and capacity to make that choice”.

But he said a sleeping woman - “the same as if it were an unconscious woman” - cannot consent to sexual conduct that takes place “while she is asleep”.

He said the first alleged victim had been asleep and "unable to consent" on the occasions Yaxley is accused of raping her, between December 2017 and December 2019.

The jury of seven men and five women were told the second alleged victim will recount two occasions when she "awoke from a deep sleep" to find Yaxley having sex with her.

Mr Thompson said the third alleged victim had been sleeping downstairs at his Yarmouth home and woke to find him engaged in "unwanted touching that was clearly sexual".

Yaxley, of Sandown Road, Yarmouth, denies three counts of rape against one woman and two counts of rape against a second woman - between April 2018 and August 2020.

He has also denied one offence of sexual assault against a third woman in August 2020.

The trial continues.