MAN CHARGED WITH RAPE AFTER ATTACK ON TEENAGER
Update 25/06/2026: A man convicted of violent sexual assault has been sentenced to prison after luring a vulnerable woman to a quiet location and assaulting her.Joseph Healey, aged 44, attacked his 18-year-old victim after leading her to a footpath in Nottingham on the evening of Friday, June 20, 2025.
Emergency services responded to the scene near Canal Street following a series of concerning Snapchat messages sent by the woman to her friends.
She had told them she was alone with a man she did not know, prompting concerns and a police call.
Using her location data, officers quickly located the distressed woman nearby.
Healey, who was sleeping rough by the canal, was nearby and was detained by police.
CCTV recordings showed him guiding the woman towards a secluded spot behind Nottingham One near the canal banks.
After his arrest, Healey claimed at first that he had consensual sex with her, despite the circumstances.
At the start of his trial on December 8, 2025, he changed his account and pleaded guilty to a single count of rape.
Healey, previously convicted of burglary and robbery, was on licence after being released from prison the day before the assault.
He also admitted to giving the victim two tablets used for anxiety, although it was acknowledged he did not do so with sexual intent.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… A man named Joseph Healey, aged 43, of no fixed address, has been accused and charged with multiple serious offenses following an incident in Nottingham city centre.
The charges include rape, sexual assault, administering a substance with the intent to overpower someone, and assaulting an emergency worker.
This individual was involved in an attack on a 19-year-old woman in an alleyway off Canal Street around 8 pm on the Friday prior to his court appearance.
Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that he is scheduled to appear before Nottingham Magistrates' Court shortly.Detective Sergeant Helen Sanders stated that the police and partner agencies are actively supporting the victim during this investigation.
She mentioned that the police team has worked fiercely over the weekend to clarify the details of what transpired and that the suspect will be presented in court soon.
The authorities are also requesting help from the public who may have witnessed the crime or captured footage around the area between the Trent Street Bridge, Loverose Bridge, and the A60 London Road Bridge at that time.
They are urging anyone with relevant information to contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously.The police emphasize ongoing efforts to combat violence against women and girls.
The case is part of a broader campaign to address such issues, and the community's assistance is vital for further progress in the investigation.The article was published in the Nottingham Evening Post on June 23, 2025, and is currently under copyright by MGN Ltd.
The case remains under active investigation, and the suspect's next court appearance is scheduled for the immediate future.
