A man has been sentenced to six years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman after they both agreed to share a sofa for the night at a friend’s house following a night out. Declan Marno, 24, was in Chester in March last year with his 18-year-old victim and a group of friends. Upon returning to a friend’s house after their night out, it was decided that Marno and the victim would sleep at opposite ends of the sofa.

During the night, Marno assaulted the victim, causing her to lose consciousness during the attack. The following morning, the victim confronted Marno about his actions, reminding him of what had transpired. The victim reported the assault to Cheshire Police, leading to Marno admitting guilt to assault and rape charges during his initial court appearance in February.

At Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, May 19, Marno, who is from Chester, was handed a six-year prison sentence. Detective Constable Emma Flanagan from CID Reactive West expressed sympathy for the victim, acknowledging the trauma she must have endured. Flanagan condemned Marno for exploiting the victim’s trust and disregarding her consent while satisfying his own desires.

Flanagan commended the victim’s courage throughout the investigation, emphasizing the importance of her testimony in securing justice. In addition to the prison term, Marno was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.