A Gravesend man has been jailed for six years after being found guilty of raping a teenager as she slept.

Asso Salhi, 25, of Pelham Road, denied raping a 19-year-old woman in the town on March 1 last year.

He was convicted by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court and jailed yesterday (October 23).

Salhi attacked his victim while she was sleeping.

She ran away and alerted a friend, who called police.

Salhi claimed his victim had initiated the sexual contact.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Victoria Martlew, of Kent Police, said: “Salhi has denied raping this young woman from the very beginning, blaming her and insisting she had come on to him.

“He took advantage of his victim when she was asleep and at her most vulnerable and has shown absolutely no remorse for the tremendous ordeal he put her through.

“I would like to praise her courage in assisting us with our investigation and welcome the news Salhi will be behind bars for a number of years to answer for his crime.

“Kent Police will not tolerate sexual assaults, abuse or rape and we have specialist officers trained in detecting these crimes. Victims will always be treated with sensitivity and compassion and every report of this nature will be taken extremely seriously.”