A MAN has been charged by police after a woman was raped in her own home by a stranger while asleep.

Cheshire Police had previously launched a large media appeal for information in connection with the incident, which occurred in the early hours on Sunday, October 2.

At 5.30am, police were called to an address on Orford Lane. Officers found that an unknown man had entered the house and then raped the female occupant, who had been asleep.

Detectives investigating the report have now charged a man in connection with the incident.

Petrus-Ionut Apostoae was arrested on Monday, December 5.

The 24-year-old, of Gorsey Lane in Orford, has since been charged with two counts of rape and one count of burglary.

Apostoae has been remanded in custody and is set to appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, Wednesday.

In the days that followed the incident, residents in the area were urged to remain vigilant by ensuring they kept windows and doors locked.

At the time, superintendent Mike Evans said: “Thankfully, attacks such as these are extremely rare – nevertheless, I would urge residents to be vigilant and make sure their homes are well secured.

“I hope that our large police presence in the area will reassurance those in the local community that we are working tirelessly to find the man responsible.”