Yahoo News 'Sexual predator' jailed after assaulting grandmother as she slept at home
A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting a grandmother as she slept in her bed in Worcester.
Daniel Edwards, 28, entered the house through a kitchen window and then attacked the victim, in her 40s, in her bedroom, the court heard.
The woman, who had previously rejected him, woke up from what she thought was a bad dream, swore at him and told him to leave, jurors were told.
The father-of-one was found guilty of assault by penetration at Worcester Crown Court on Friday following the attack in a flat in Warndon in 2013.
Judge Nicholas Cole jailed Edwards for six years, half to be served in custody.
In the summer of 2013 the woman woke up to discover Edwards, who was “half-naked”, sexually assaulting her.
She thought she was having a “bad dream'” and then feared she was going to be strangled.
When she woke up the victim swore, asked Edwards what he was doing and told him to get out of her house.
He denied assault and claimed he only shook her to wake her because he was looking for somewhere to stay because he was locked out of his home.
The same woman had previously told Edwards she was “old enough to be his mum” as she rebuffed him.
The judge said the offence was aggravated because it was committed in the early hours of the morning and Edwards had been drinking.
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Speaking after the hearing the victim said she had wanted an apology from Edwards but had never received one.
She thought he had “no conscience” about what he had done.
The woman, who declined the use of a screen when she gave evidence during the trial, said: "I'm still sad. I take no pleasure from this.
The victim, who cannot be identified, often sleeps on the sofa of her home because she cannot bear to sleep on the same bed where she was assaulted, has suffered mental health problems, has to see a psychiatrist and has been prescribed antidepressants.
Speaking of Edwards she said: "He's a sexual predator. I think women are safer now."
Edwards, from Pershore, Worcestershire, is subject to notification requirements indefinitely meaning he must inform police of any change of name or address.
He is also barred from working with children or other vulnerable people.
Edwards was cleared of assault by penetration against a girl aged 13 to 15, alleged to have taken place between 2008 and 2011.
The jury also cleared him of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, with regards to the woman in her 40s.
