Man who raped woman as she slept jailed

A "dangerous individual" who raped a vulnerable woman while she was asleep has been jailed.

Imran Ayyaz, of Lynwood Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, attacked his victim in a property in Darwen on 30 July 2023.

Lancashire Police said the victim woke to find Ayyaz raping her and only stopped after the victim repeatedly screamed at him.

The 29-year-old denied rape but was found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court on Friday. He was handed a seven-year jail term at the same court on Tuesday.

Ayyaz was arrested the following day and provided a pre-prepared statement denying any wrongdoing, police said.

He then refused to answer any questions put to him by the interviewing officers.

Ayyaz was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and given a 10-year restraining order.

Det Con Alyson Richards said: "Ayyaz is a dangerous individual who took advantage of his victim while she was in an extremely vulnerable state.

"[He] knew she was not consenting to what he was doing, and continued his lies during his police interview and throughout the trial.

"The jury saw through those lies and delivered a guilty verdict."

She praised the victim "for her bravery throughout the process and for trusting the police to hold the man who raped her to account and put him before the courts".

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