A woman who woke up to find herself being raped by a man she knew after a night out with friends has seen her attacker jailed.

The victim had been socialising in Gravesend when she met Rhys Cheal on August 21.

She had planned to go to a female friend’s home at the end of the evening but Cheal, who she had known previously, had been following her around and offered to take her to get a taxi.

When the woman’s friend asked to join them Cheal said he would get her home as she was feeling ill.

Instead, he took her to an address in Longfield where she went to sleep and woke up to find him raping her.

Cheal admitted to his crime over the phone and the victim later reported her ordeal to police.

The 26-year-old, of Weird Wood, Longfield, was arrested on December 3 and charged with rape.

He had pleaded not guilty at Woolwich Crown Court but was convicted on Friday (June 21) following a trial.

Cheal was jailed for four years and six months’ in prison and will be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Detective Constable Stephanie Wilson said: “This man has committed an appalling crime by taking advantage of a vulnerable young woman.

“Pretending to be concerned for her welfare, he prevented her friends from accompanying her and then took her to an address where he raped her.

“He is now starting a prison sentence and I would like to commend the victim who bravely reported the crime and then supported our investigation until Cheal was brought to justice.

“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to contact us as soon as possible.

“We have trained officers who will take steps to keep you safe and then act to make sure offenders cannot go on to harm others.”