Lee Reszka, 35, of Longridge, Knutsford, has been found guilty of rape and attempted rape following a five-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The verdict was delivered on Friday 3 July, and he awaits sentencing after being remanded into custody.
Attack under false pretences
In November 2023, Reszka went to the victim's address in Congleton, Cheshire, claiming he was looking for a mutual acquaintance, knowing the person was not there. The victim allowed him to use the toilet, but instead of leaving, Reszka approached her and attempted to rape her. The victim managed to escape, but he then orally raped her before leaving.
The victim disclosed the attack to friends, and police were alerted. DNA evidence on the victim's clothing matched Reszka, and she had injuries consistent with the offences.
Police praise victim's courage
DC Neilson-Bird of Cheshire Police said: “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.”
“Throughout the investigation Reszka maintained his lies and tried to mislead the police, changing his account as more evidence emerged. He continued to try and portray the victim as a liar who had fabricated the incident, putting her through the stress of a trial. But the jury has seen him for what he is and convicted him of his crimes.”
“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.”
Sentencing pending
Reszka has been remanded into custody and will appear back at court on August 10 for sentencing. Police encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to contact Cheshire Police on 101 or via their website.
