Jury considering verdicts in student sex attacks trial

The seven men and five women on the jury have been sent out to start deliberations in the trial of Connor Yaxley, who has been accused of the attacks on three women.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh) Norwich Crown Court has heard all three women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were asleep during the alleged offences by Yaxley.  At the time he had been studying film studies at the University of Suffolk, based at East Coast College in Yarmouth.

East Coast College (Image: Newsquest) Yaxley, of Sandown Road, Great Yarmouth, has denied four counts of rape and a sexual assault against one woman, between December 2017 and December 2019.

He has also denied two counts of rape against a second woman between April 2018 and August 2020, and a sexual assault against a third woman in August 2020.

Judge Andrew Shaw sent jurors out to consider verdicts shortly after 3.10pm on Wednesday (August 28).

It was after closing speeches by the prosecution and defence earlier in the day.

In his closing address Andrew Thompson, prosecuting, said when Yaxley "wants it, he will not take no for an answer".

He said the women were asleep at the time these incidents happened meaning "there was no consent".

Mr Thompson said: "This is a person that can't stop himself and sees sleeping women as no reason to reign himself in.

"We say that is the behaviour of a rapist."

Ed Renvoize, defending Yaxley, said in his closing speech it was not for the defendant to "prove anything whatsoever" but for the prosecution to "prove that he is guilty".

He said "cold, hard analysis of the facts" was needed and urged jurors not to be drawn into speculation.

Mr Renvoize said one of the complainants gave "scant details" of the nighttime rapes in her first interview in 2020 but was able to give "specific" details by the time of her second interview in 2022.

The defence barrister said, "not until there's discussion between them all are complaints raised".

The trial continues.