Man jailed for rape and sexual assault at Preston Crown Court
24-year-old Lewis Hartley was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life
A man has been arrested for five years after being charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
24-year-old Lewis Hartley met his victim on a night out on 13th May 2023, where he proceeded to enter the victim's house along with one of her friends, despite the victim declining, saying she just wanted to go to sleep.
Hartley then pretended to be asleep when the friend left the house, before he then raped and sexually assaulted his victim. He then used her mobile phone to call for a taxi.
Hartley, formerly of Minnie Terrace, Blackburn, but now of no fixed address, was arrested two days later. He was subsequently charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. At a trial at Preston Crown Court in September 2025, he was found guilty of all offences.
Hartley returned to Preston Crown Court on Monday 10 November where he was jailed for 5 years and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.