Scunthorpe man raped woman while she was asleep
Johnathan Matthew has been found guilty of rape
Last updated 17th Jul 2026
A Scunthorpe man has been convicted after raping a woman while she was asleep.
Jonathan Matthew, 30, of Scunthorpe, has been found guilty of rape after a five-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court.
He's been remanded into custody and will be sentenced on Friday 14 August 2026.
Investigation
Grimsby Crown Court heard how Matthew caused damage to a house the victim was in by throwing items and punching walls.
He also raped the victim while she was sleeping.
Matthew was arrested shortly after the woman reported what had happened.
Court proceedings
Matthew was charged in February 2026 with rape, sexual assault by penetration, criminal damage and breaching his existing Sex Offender Registration requirements.
He pleaded guilty to the criminal damage offence and breaching his registration requirements in March, but denied the sexual offences.
A jury found him guilty of rape but not guilty of sexual assault by penetration.
Matthew was already on the Sex Offender Register for an unrelated offence from 2024 and breached his requirements by failing to tell police that he'd changed address.
"Pain and trauma"
Detective Constable Niki White, who led the investigation said: “This has been a complex investigation, drawn out by Matthew’s refusal to admit his guilt.
"This vindictive decision only extended the pain and trauma he had already subjected the woman to by causing her to relive the events at trial."
She added: "Matthew attacked the sleeping woman at a point she was most vulnerable; the trauma and emotional impact that this has had will undoubtably stay with her for life."