A MAN who repeatedly raped a terrified woman after keeping her in a house for five hours, has been locked up for five years.

James Whitley, 30, described by his victim as looking “wide eyed and quite unhinged” subjected his victim to violence and had sex with her three times against her will at the property in the Hyndburn area.

After the woman’s ordeal was over, he turned up at Accrington police station and told staff he had come to hand himself in as he had tried to strangle the woman.

He was arrested, interviewed and made no comment, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Whitley, of Annie Street, Accrington, admitted sexual assault, three counts of rape and one of assault, in July.

The defendant, who had no previous convictions, was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Louise Whaites, prosecuting, said the defendant tried to kiss the victim, grabbed at her trousers, and pushed her into a room.

She had begged him to stop throughout, but he had ordered her to be quiet.

The defendant put his hand around the victim’s throat and pushed down. Whitley pulled her to the floor, squeezed her neck and she managed to scratch his face so that he let go.

The defendant then apologised to his victim and said he would be going to prison.

Miss Whaites said just over half an hour later, Whitley walked into Accrington police station. He appeared to be in shock and told an officer he had ‘lost it’.

Charlotte Holland, for Whitley, said he had always been hard working, but had lost his job a year ago.

Miss Holland said: “He has absolutely no explanation for the way he behaved.”

She said he had now spent 119 days in the cells trying to work out if he could understand what happened.

Sentencing, Judge Simon Newell told the defendant his actions had shown domination and had been humiliating for the victim.

He said: “These were very, very serious offences.”