Colchester: Rapist sentenced to 14 years in prison

“The woman in this case did something incredibly brave by speaking to the police – her actions have ultimately led to this sentence.”

Officers have praised the bravery of a woman reporting she was raped as her attacker was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Daniel Oldfield, 48, of no fixed abode, attacked his victim in her own home in April 2022.

On the night of 2 April, Oldfield had been sleeping elsewhere in the property but entered the woman’s bedroom and attacked her, injuring her hand and holding her by the neck before leaving the room.

Later the same evening he attacked the woman again, as she slept, raping and sexually assaulting her.

He was charged and remanded in custody from November 2022, and following a two-week trial, a jury at Ipswich Crown Court found Oldfield guilty of rape and sexual assault by penetration by majority verdict 11-1 in August 2024.

He has now been jailed for 14 years and given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order following a hearing at the same court on 30 October 2025.

Colchester Domestic Abuse Problem Solving Team (DAPST) Sergeant Sonia Mirrington-French said:

It has been three-and-a-half years since this incident and the woman at the centre of this case had conducted herself with dignity throughout.
Oldfield had used every court appearance to delay or obstruct his case and eventual sentencing but is now behind bars.
I am incredibly proud of the hours of hard work put into this case by all the officers in our team.
Our work is often perpetrator-focussed and our time is spent ensuring they go before the courts, but at the heart of that work are those they offend against.
It all comes back to our aim of supporting victims and breaking the cycles of abuse these offenders make.

The day following the April 2022 assault, the woman in this case visited hospital due to the injury to her hand and after we spoke to medical staff, Oldfield was arrested on suspicion of the assault and interviewed by officers on 4 April.

Due to his behaviour and the reported assault, Oldfield was placed on our Threat To Life Register. We use data to identify those highest risk perpetrators, focussing on those which pose a threat to life by using indicators that academic research has shown are known risk indicators for domestic abuse homicide.

The suspects on this register are required to engage with police or face consequences such as court orders restricting their behaviour, controls on what devices they can have, and further arrest for failing to comply with these measures.

At the same time, DAPST’s Detective Constable Rebecca Welch contacted the woman Oldfield attacked.

In November 2022, thanks to the support DC Welch provided, the woman disclosed the details of the rape and sexual assault and was confident to support a prosecution.

Oldfield was re-arrested, charged and remanded that month, taking him off the streets.

DC Welch said:

Knowing that this woman would finally see justice, that others aren't going to be hurt by him and that other women were safe was my motivation throughout this case. To see this concluded makes me really happy.
We can never underestimate the courage required to speak to our officers about incidents like this.
The woman in this case did something incredibly brave by speaking to the police – her actions have ultimately led to this sentence.
Oldfield showed throughout this case he had no remorse for his crimes or understanding of the impact he had had on this woman.
It’s why we applied for the lifetime SHPO, to ensure we can keep the tightest control possible of Oldfield upon his release.
Our team works every day to make sure him and others committing the same offences are made to face justice.

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