NewsUK NewsRapeDeclan Marno, 24, has been jailed after he raped his 18-year-old victim on a sofa where they had agreed to sleep following a night out with friends in Chester17:35, 20 May 2026A man has been jailed for raping a woman after they agreed to share a sofa to sleep at a friend's house following a night out.Declan Marno, 24, had been in Chester in March last year with his 18-year-old victim and a group of friends.At the end of the night out they returned to a friend's house where it was agreed that Marno and the victim would sleep on opposite ends of a sofa overnight.During the night Marno raped her with the victim passing out during the attack. The following morning she challenged Marno over his behaviour and warned him that she remembered what he had done.READ MORE: Middle East braced for war as Trump gives defiant Tehran just TWO DAYS to accept dealREAD MORE: Moment Russian warplane 'dangerously' intercepts RAF spy plane above the Black SeaThe 18-year-old went on to report her attacker's crimes to Cheshire Police and he gave officers a pre-written statement denying any wrongdoing while refusing to answer any questions put to him, reported the Liverpool Echo.Despite this, he later pleaded guilty to assault and rape charges at his first appearance in court in February. At Chester Crown Court, on Tuesday, May 19, Marno, from Chester, was sentenced to six years in prison.Detective Constable Emma Flanagan, of CID Reactive West, said: "I cannot imagine how traumatising this experience will have been for the victim, a young woman who had enjoyed a night out in the city centre surrounded by people whom she believed she could trust to look out for her."Declan Marno abused this trust and acted upon his own selfish desires in the pursuit of sexual gratification, preying on her when she was at her most vulnerable and not once taking her feelings, wishes or consent into consideration.Article continues below"Whilst sadly, nothing can be done to turn back the clock on what has happened, I do hope that now Marno has been held accountable for his actions and has been put behind bars for the next six years, the victim can begin the process of healing."I would also like to take this opportunity to thank her for the bravery and strength she has shown throughout this entire investigation. Having to recount what had happened to her will have been an emotionally challenging endeavour, yet it was her evidence that proved vital in us securing this conviction against her attacker and getting her the justice she deserved."Alongside his custodial prison sentence, Marno was placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Cheshire PoliceCourt caseCrown courtPrison sentenceCrimeSex offenders registerRape