Man who raped sleeping woman in Cork home appeals conviction and sentence

Accused was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of one count of rape, one count of burglary, one count of assault causing harm, one count of sexual assault and four counts of trespass

In passing sentence, the judge said the assault occurred in the victim's own bedroom 'in the dead of night' and that the victim was 'particularly vulnerable'.

A man convicted of raping a woman while she slept in her home has appealed his conviction and sentence.

Kamal Kumar Nepali, 24, of Beech Park, Ballincollig, Co Cork, was sentenced to nine years in prison on March 11 after being found guilty of one count of rape, one count of burglary, one count of assault causing harm, one count of sexual assault and four counts of trespass in Cork on March 1, 2022. 

He was given a 10-year sentence, with one year suspended with a number of conditions.

The sentence was backdated to when Nepali entered custody on June 17, 2022.

His trial heard he had broken into the victim’s house and raped her as she slept.

She woke at 7am to find Nepali with his arms across her body.

In passing sentence, Mr Justice Michael McGrath said the assault occurred in the victim's own bedroom “in the dead of night” and that the victim was “particularly vulnerable”.

In her victim impact statement, the woman said: “I will never forget coming home to my parents and watching my dad cry. I had love bites all over my neck and bruises on my lower body. I covered myself in scarves and turtlenecked jumpers until these cleared. Not only did I not want to see these, I wanted to protect my family and friends from this too.

“The confusion, fear and upset from that morning will never leave me. I couldn't make sense of the situation nor comprehend how my life was about to change.

“I became a shell of a person I once was, unable to speak or process the events that occurred. I wouldn't wish this on anyone and I will continue to carry this for the rest of my life.” 

Three days after the sentencing hearing, Nepali lodged an appeal with the Courts Service.

Nepali had no previous convictions and character references were given to the court on his behalf.

He was convicted after a trial last December, with sentencing adjourned until March 11.