Daniel John Hart

A man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting to raping two women in Poole, Dorset. The attacks occurred on 15 May 2025, targeting vulnerable victims in their own homes.

Dorset Police received a call at 5.15am on Thursday 15 May 2025 regarding a woman in her 70s who suffers from dementia. An unknown man had entered her property during the night, dragged her into the bedroom, and raped her. Enquiries led to the identification of 29-year-old Daniel John Hart, of no fixed abode, as the suspect. He was linked to the crime through DNA analysis.

Later that same day, shortly before 2pm, police were informed of another incident involving a woman in her 40s. She was approached by a man outside her flat in Poole, who then raped her inside the address. The victim was also vulnerable, with disabilities. Officers responded to a nearby altercation and chased the suspect, who fled the scene. The man was followed to the second victim's address, where he jumped through the lounge window. Hart was arrested at the scene and identified by the victim as her attacker.

Hart was charged with the rape of both women and entered guilty pleas at court. He appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday 3 November 2025, where he was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment.

Detective Inspector Jon Sainsbury, of Bournemouth CID, commented: "Daniel Hart’s horrific offending saw him rape two vulnerable women in their own homes. Thanks to the swift response from officers on the day and a thorough and determined investigation by detectives afterwards, we were able to hold him to account for his despicable crimes." He praised the work of Detective Constable Hele Leech-Wilkinson and Detective Constable Chloe Roaf, who led the investigations and built the case against Hart.

The case was reported by Alex Hulse for Rayo Greatest Hits Dorset News, published on 5 November 2025.