A MAN has been found guilty of rape after he crawled into a woman’s bed as she slept and assaulted her.

John Farrow, 33, of Bruce Kirkcup Road, Horden, was found guilty of one count of rape and sentenced to eight years and 10 months behind bars at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday.

Farrow and the woman had both been staying the night at the same address in Sunderland after a party in 2017.

She had gone to bed and awoke, in pain, in the darkened room to find someone on top of her.

She asked who it was and he replied as she told him to get off. 

She checked the other occupants of the house were ok before police were called as she made the revelation to others in the house that Farrow had raped her.

Farrow denied his guilt but last week a jury convicted him of rape and he was sentenced to nearly nine years behind bars.

Praising the victim, the officer in charge of the case Detective Constable Kit Tipling of the Rape Investigation Team said: “The victim showed incredible courage by reporting what had happened and helping us throughout our investigation. Her actions have now resulted in Farrow going on to spend nearly a decade locked up.

“I know how hard it has been for her and I want to thank her for her resilience and strength throughout the entire process, from contacting police so swiftly to assisting us throughout the entire court process, she has shown immense dignity and courage.

“I know that no sentence will ever take away the pain of what happened but I sincerely hope it will provide some comfort and can, hopefully, allow her to move on from this awful ordeal.”

Her victim impact statement was read aloud in court, discussing the impact of her assault, she said: “Someone close to me says I have changed as a person, that I am less tolerant and more moody. She said I used to be bubbly.

“The rape which I was a victim of is the first thing that I think about when I wake up in the morning and it’s the last thing that I think about before I go to sleep; it has impacted my life a great deal. 

“Hopefully I will be able to get on with my life and get back to feeling the way I used to feel.”  

Anyone who has been a victim of rape, sexual assault or abuse, recent or historic, is asked to contact police on 101 or report via the "Tell Us Something" page of the Northumbria Police website. Always call 999 in an emergency.

To contact the 24/7 Crisis Helpline contact 03333448283 or find out more about our Sexual Assault Referral Centre by searching REACH SARC online.

Victims can also contact Victims First Northumbria on 0800 011 3116 who will give independent advice and support.

For more information about rape or sexual assault search Northumbria Police online.

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