A man who raped a woman in her own bed after she agreed to let him stay over at her home for the night on the sofa has been jailed following a complex police investigation.

Joseph Turnbull had been on a night when he offered to accompany a woman on her journey home to "make sure she returned safe".

Once there, the 25-year-old asked her if he could stay the night to avoid disturbing his own family back home – to which she agreed, and gave him blankets to sleep on the sofa.

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However, during the night, Turnbull, of Darlington, left the sofa and got into the woman’s bed, where he raped her.

The distressed woman quickly left the scene and travelled to her mum’s address where she told her what had happened.

In a victim impact statement, she said: “The incident happened in my own home and I was left feeling uncomfortable in my own space. I was unable to stay where it happened and had to stay with my mam, which was disruptive.

“Friends have commented on how anxious I am and hyper-vigilant when we are socialising.

"I also find it really difficult to trust people after what has happened. The incident has led me to re-evaluate my relationship with men romantically and platonically and to trust others in general.

“Being introduced to new people has also been a challenge and not wanting to be left alone with people I don’t know very well has been really difficult, sometimes leading to panic attacks.”

After several months, the woman found the courage to report what had happened to her to police and officers launched an investigation.

Turnbull was arrested and later charged with rape, which he denied.

He was found guilty following a trial at Teesside Crown Court last week and jailed for four years and four months.

He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life. Temporary Detective Inspector Liam Robertson, from Darlington CID, said: “The woman in this case has shown immense strength and courage to come forward and report what happened to her.

“I hope this verdict and sentence provides her with some comfort and allows her to move on with her life.”

He added: “Due to the incident happening behind closed doors, there were no witnesses to what took place, so the case focussed on the consistent disclosures made by the woman to her friends, family, and professionals over the course of a year.

"These were captured in evidential format and ultimately confirmed to the jury that she was a credible and truthful witness.

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“I hope gives other victims confidence that, even where offences take place in the past and behind closed doors, we can and will work extremely hard to get to that high burden of proof.”

Anyone who has suffered sexual abuse should report it to police on 101, or in an emergency by calling 999.

Independent help is also available through The Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0330 223 0099 or via their website at www.sarcdurham.co.uk