Great Yarmouth student who raped women as they slept jailed

Connor Yaxley, 30, informed one of the women he attacked that he fantasied about rape and has been told that he posed a “serious risk and danger to the public”.

He messaged the woman, who cannot be named, after raping her to say that “when my hormones are up, I simply cannot control myself”. 

He added: “I cannot keep hurting people. I’m scared of my own urges.”

Yaxley, of Sandown Road, Great Yarmouth, was sentenced to 14 years in prison and eight years on extended licence, after being found guilty of five counts of rape and one of sexual assault following a trial at Norwich Crown Court.

READ MORE: Former student found guilty of sex attacks on three sleeping women

The offences all took place between 2017 and 2020 and included a period when he had been studying film studies at the University of Suffolk, based at East Coast College in Great Yarmouth.

Yaxley began offending while studying film studies at the University of Suffolk, based at East Coast College in Great Yarmouth (Image: East Coast College)

In one instance, a woman had been asleep when she woke up to find him raping her. Yaxley claimed he had no recollection of how it happened and said he must have been dreaming at the time.

Another woman was raped at Yaxley’s address after she refused to have sex with him. She told the court that on previous occasions Yaxley had raped her while she was sleeping. 

Yaxley was also found guilty of sexually assaulting a third woman as she slept in an armchair at his address.

READ MORE: Student claimed he was dreaming at the time of sex attacks

Sentencing him, Judge Andrew Shaw said: “It is a concerning feature that you seem to think it is okay to have sex with sleeping and unconscious women.” 

He said he had confided in one of of his victims that he had a rape fantasies and he thought he needed medical help.

Judge Andrew Shaw said Yaxley posed a serious risk to women (Image: Newsquest)

“You said you liked to use her as a tissue and that crying girls turned you on,” said Judge Shaw.  

He said Yaxley continued to pose a serious risk and danger to women, adding: “There is no real mitigation here.”

He placed him on the sex offenders register and made him subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for life that will also require him on release from prison to inform the police of all future relationships.

'I WILL NEVER HEAL FROM THIS TRAUMA'

The victims spoke of the impact the attacks had on their lives in personal statements that were read out at court.

One victim described how she is now afraid to sleep, saying: "It feels like there's a bogeyman constantly on my shoulder, like a phantom fear which is difficult to explain.

"I still can't sleep all of the way through the night because of this feeling of fear I have at night."

Another said she was "haunted" by Yaxley, adding: "I will always be affected by Connor. I will never heal from this trauma. At least now I know that he won't be able to prey on other women."

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Dylan Thomas said: "These offences happened whilst these women were sleeping, and while they were at their most vulnerable. 

“They were unsure if anyone would believe them up until they reported what happened to the police, and showed great courage despite the trauma they have suffered.

"I would urge anyone who believes that they are a victim of rape or sexual assault to report it to the police so that positive action can be taken against the perpetrator. "

• Advice and information about reporting rape or sexual assault is available here. Victims of sexual offences who live in Norfolk can contact the Harbour Centre for free, 24/7 support on 01603 276381.