Hastings man jailed for 10 years over brutal rape of vulnerable woman
Attack in Home Shocks Community
Nathan Ackerley, 28, from School Road, Hastings, was sentenced to a decade behind bars for raping a vulnerable woman in October 2021. The victim had been brought back to his home where she fell asleep before waking to find herself under attack. Horrifyingly, she discovered her clothes had been cut during the assault.
Victim’s Courage Leads to Arrest
Showing immense bravery, the woman escaped and immediately reported the crime to police. Specialist officers stepped in to support her while detectives tracked down Ackerley, who was arrested on suspicion of rape. Police uncovered disturbing evidence on his phone — pictures taken of the victim while she was asleep.
Multiple Charges, Harsh Sentence
Ackerley faced charges including rape, sexual assault by touching, sexual assault by penetration, and voyeurism. Convicted on all counts on July 19, he was sentenced on July 22 to ten years in prison with a two-thirds minimum term. He was also slapped with a restraining order preventing any contact with the victim and must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
Victim and Police Speak Out
“I want to thank Sussex Police for their continued support,” said the victim, a woman in her 20s. “I hope my case encourages other victims to come forward. My goal was to stop this from happening to someone else, and hopefully we’ve achieved that.”
Detective Sergeant Ella Cook praised the victim’s “incredible bravery” and assured the public that “a dangerous man is behind bars where he can cause no further harm.” She urged anyone affected by sexual offences to report incidents quickly, whether online, through 101, or by calling 999 in emergencies.
This case sends a chilling reminder of how vital victim courage and police support are in bringing predators to justice.
