4:09pm Wednesday 14th May 2008
By Steve Kelly
A PERVERT who broke in to a young woman's home as she slept and sexually abused her will be sentenced later this week.
Jeffrey Hickey held the terrified woman down by the throat and threatened to stab her during the attack at her home in Peel House Lane, Widnes, on July 27 last year.
The 29-year-old, of Mayfair Grove, Widnes, pounced at about 3.30am after climbing up a drainpipe and breaking in through an open window.
He left using via the drainpipe soon after the assault.
DI Nigel Wenham, who led the investigation, said: "Given the extreme nature and seriousness of this crime, I have no doubt that Hickey is clearly an extremely dangerous individual who poses a serious threat to the general public."
A major investigation was launched by Cheshire Police to identify a suspect and Hickey was eventually caught using DNA evidence. He was arrested in Chester on August 8.
However, he refused to admit the assault by penetration charge until a week before his trial was due to start at Warrington Crown Court.
DI Wenham said: "Hickey showed no remorse for his crime - or compassion towards the victim - throughout the criminal justice process."
He added: "The victim remains deeply shocked from such a traumatic attack and cannot be alone in the house anymore.
DI Wenham also said he was confident Hickey would face a lengthy' prison sentence.
"Crimes of this nature are, thankfully, still exceptionally rare - particularly in Cheshire," he said.
"While it always pays to be vigilant with home security, the community of Widnes can at least be safe in the knowledge that Jeffrey Hickey will be behind bars for a lengthy period."
Hickey will be sentenced on Friday.
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