Man found guilty of rape and attempted rape

A man has been convicted of raping and attempting to rape a woman in Congleton.

Lee Reszka, of Longridge in Knutsford, was found guilty of rape and attempted rape on Friday 3rd July following a five-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

The 35-year-old has been remanded into custody will appear back at court on Monday 10th August for sentencing.

In November 2023, Reszka had attended the victim’s address on the pretence he was looking for a mutual acquaintance, knowing full well they were not present.

While at the address, the victim allowed Reska to use the toilet, however instead of leaving afterwards, he approached her and attempted to rape her.

The victim managed to get away from him, but he then orally raped her before leaving the address.

She then disclosed what had happened to friends and it was reported to police.

A piece of clothing worn by the victim was forensically tested and DNA found on it provided a match to Reszka. The victim also had injuries consistent with the offences.

DC Neilson-Bird 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.

“Anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence can contact Cheshire Police on 101 or report through the Cheshire Police website.”

Pictured - Lee Reszka of Longridge in Knutsford.