South Shields rapist denied attacking a woman while she was sleeping
A sex attacker who raped a sleeping woman has been jailed for six years.
Peter Esen's victim had nodded off fully clothed on a sofa and woke up horrified to find her trousers and underwear had been taken off.
Newcastle Crown Court she alerted the police and Esen's DNA was linked to the attack through DNA.
Esen, 36, of Talbot Road, South Shields, initially made no response when questioned and later, when asked about the DNA evidence, claimed there had been consensual sex.
He denied rape but was convicted by a jury after a trial.
The victim said in a impact statement, which was read in court, the ordeal made her feel like "the most disgusting human ever" and added: "I feel like my dignity has been ripped away from me."
She said her mental health has suffered and she lives in fear that the same thing could happen again.
The woman added: "He saw an opportunity and took advantage. He could have admitted doing what he had done but chose not to which meant the further distress of having to go to trial.”
Judge Gavin Doig said Esen must now sign the sex offenders register for life.
The judge told him: "Had you admitted this offence, as you could and perhaps should have done, the sentence would have been reduced because you would have saved your victim from having to give evidence about what went on.
"She fell asleep on a sofa and you raped her when she was asleep.
"She had drank quite a lot that evening, her urine sample showed that to be the case. She felt ill and was sick before going to sleep.
"When she woke up she found the bottom part of her body was naked and her belt was on the other side of the room. She realised what had happened and she made a report to the police."
The judge added: "She was asleep and vulnerable and you took advantage of her.
"You specifically targeted her at a time when she was particularly vulnerable."
Fiona Lamb, defending, said Esen has a good work record, has become a trusted prisoner while on remand and hopes to complete an Open University course.
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