Police release mugshot of Northwich man who raped girl, 16, in her sleep

Joseph Taylor, of Solvay Road, was jailed for six years and nine months on August 11 after he pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two of sexual assault at Chester Crown Court.

The charges relate to series of sexual offences on a 16-year-old girl whilst Taylor - now aged 25 - was between 17 and 18-years-old.

Detective Constable Joe Duckworth, from Cheshire Police, said: “Firstly, I would like to commend the victim for the bravery she has shown throughout this investigation.

“Taylor intentionally targeted the victim at her most vulnerable state, and he purposefully chose to take advantage of her whilst she slept to avoid repercussions.

“Thankfully, as a result of the evidence provided by the victim and the evidence gathered during our investigation, Taylor is now facing a significant prison sentence and is no longer a danger to the general public.

Joseph Taylor

“While the victim will never be able to forget what Taylor subjected her to, I do hope that the conclusion of this case provides some closure and enables her to move forward with her life.

“I also hope that this case encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report them to us.

“Cheshire Police treats all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any reports will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.”

If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, or know of someone who has, please contact Cheshire Police on 101, cheshire.police.uk/ or Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.