North Kent man jailed for serious sexual assault of woman as she slept

Rhys Cheal, a man residing in Weird Wood, Longfield, was convicted of raping a vulnerable woman after assaulting her following a night out in Gravesend in August 2021. The victim initially planned to stay at a friend's house but was taken to an address in Longfield by Cheal, who prevented her friends from accompanying her by claiming she was feeling ill. While at the residence, she awoke to find Cheal raping her. The woman contacted the police the next morning and reported the incident. Cheal confessed to the attack during a phone call, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction at Woolwich Crown Court. On June 21, 2024, Cheal, aged 26 and from Weird Wood, Longfield, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely. Detective Constable Stephanie Wilson from the North Division Rape Investigation Team stated, "This offender took advantage of a vulnerable young woman. He pretended to be concerned for her welfare, kept her friends away, and then committed this heinous crime. We commend the victim for her bravery in reporting the assault and supporting the investigation to ensure justice was served. We urge anyone affected by sexual offences to contact us. Our officers are trained to keep victims safe and stop offenders from hurting others."