Man guilty of canal path rape and attempted murder

A man has been found guilty of rape and attempted murder after an attack on a canal towpath in Leicestershire.

The victim was pushed and punched to the ground by Macauley Worden near Belton Road in Loughborough in the early hours of 30 August 2025.

The victim was also strangled and had their phone and wallet taken, police said.

Worden, 28, of Fox Covert in Whetstone, Leicestershire, was also convicted of sexual assault by penetration and robbery at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday.

At a previous hearing, Worden admitted to actual bodily harm and theft.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the same court on 12 June.

Leicestershire Police said the investigation was led by detectives from Signal - the force's specialist rape and serious sexual assault team.

Worden was arrested on 3 September after being found sleeping rough in a tent around a mile from where the attack occurred, officers said.

Det Insp Majid Zaveri said: "This was a harrowing and complex investigation with officers from across Team Leicestershire working to identify and locate Worden.

"Thankfully, through the evidence we were able to present, he's been found guilty of a horrific, violent attack and must now face the consequences of his actions."

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