Man sends laughing emojis text after sex attack

A man who sexually assaulted a woman later replied to a message from the victim's friend by sending two laughing emojis. Morgan Stubbs was today sentenced to three years in prison.

A court heard how between 3.30am and 4.10am on Sunday 19 June 2021 a woman and her friend invited Stubbs to a house in Winsford, Cheshire, as he knew someone who would give them a lift to the shop to buy tobacco.

He asked before they went the shop if he could come round and roll a cigarette with them. The women agreed, and the victim’s friend met Stubbs outside.

Once they returned, the victim had a cigarette with Stubbs and asked if he was taking them to the shop but instead, he started to touch her inappropriately before sexually assaulting her.

She managed to get away and told her friend what had happened. They went to look for Stubbs but he had fled. The women then locked themselves in the house and the victim's friend sent two messages to him to which he responded with two laughing emojis and then blocked her.

Her friend then called 999 and reported Stubbs to police. Stubbs handed himself in to Northwich Police Station in the morning on Sunday 20 June 2021 he was subsequently charged.

In addition to his three-year prison sentence given at Chester Crown Court, Stubbs was also handed a lifetime restraining order and ordered to sign the sex offenders registrar for life. The 24-year-old of Queens Drive, Nantwich, had previously been found guilty of assault by penetration.

Detective Constable Helen Harrison of Northwich CID, said: “During questioning Stubbs denied any involvement and claimed he was at home during the evening. Even upon further questioning he denied being there but when we presented him with CCTV and mobile data he revised his