Richard Moore – Norwich

Richard Moore, 33, of Norwich

Article from: 16/02/2026

Jail for man who raped sleeping homeless woman in Norwich

A man raped a homeless woman sleeping in a doorway in an “opportunistic” attack following a chance encounter.

Richard Moore, who was himself homeless at the time, went past the woman who was in a sleeping bag in the doorway of a store in the Davey Place area of Norwich.

Norwich Crown Court heard after twice walking past the woman in her forties – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – Moore, 33, then approached her and unzipped her sleeping bag.

Nicholas Bleaney, prosecuting, said the victim was asleep when she awoke to find she was being raped by Moore.

The victim, although homeless, was educated to university level and had been suffering from mental health difficulties at the time of the rape on July 11 last year.

Although there was no impact statement Mr Bleaney said the victim had been both “frightened” and “disturbed”.

Moore, who has 78 previous convictions for 215 offences between 2007 and 2024, appeared at court on Monday (February 16) having previously admitted rape.

Imposing an extended 10-year sentence – made up of six years and nine months in custody and three years and three months on licence – Judge Anthony Bate said he found Moore to be a “dangerous offender” who posed a risk to lone females.

Andrew Oliver, mitigating for Moore, previously of Rouen Road, Norwich, said although Moore had an appalling criminal record, he had no previous convictions for sexual offences.

He said Moore’s relationship came to an end a few days prior to this incident leaving him homeless.

The barrister said it came as a “bolt out of the blue” and saw him return to drug taking and drinking.

Although not an excuse, Mr Oliver said it went some way towards explaining why he had committed the offence.

Moore, who had a “traumatised” childhood, was “genuinely ashamed of how he acted” in what Mr Oliver insisted was an “isolated, albeit grave” incident for which he was remorseful, knowing he had caused “real harm to his victim”.

The defendant was also put on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.