Lee Reszka, 35, was found guilty of rape and attempted rape on July 3 following a five-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The attack occurred in November 2023 when Reszka arrived at the victim's home in Knutsford, Cheshire, under false pretences, claiming to be looking for a mutual friend he knew was not there.
Attack Details
After being allowed inside, Reszka asked to use the toilet but instead approached the victim and attempted to rape her. She managed to escape, but he then orally raped her before leaving. The victim immediately contacted friends, who alerted the police.
Forensic analysis of the victim's clothing revealed DNA matching Reszka. The victim also sustained injuries consistent with the attack, according to Cheshire Police.
Police and Court Proceedings
DC Neilson-Bird of Cheshire Police stated: “Reszka made the conscious decision that day to attack the victim, knowing that she was alone. He used force to get what he wanted, ignoring her attempts to fight him off.”
Reszka, of Longridge, Knutsford, has been remanded into custody and will be sentenced on August 10. During the investigation, he maintained his lies and attempted to mislead police, changing his account as evidence emerged, and portrayed the victim as a liar.
Victim's Courage
DC Neilson-Bird added: “We would like to highlight the courage of the victim in this case for speaking about what happened to her, and we hope that Reszka’s conviction will help to bring her some closure.” Police urge any victim of sexual offences to contact Cheshire Police on 101 or via their website.
