A LITHUANIAN man who fled to his country after raping a student in Blackburn has been jailed for six years.

Irmantas Jurevicius, 23, who was extradited last year, has already spent 243 days behind bars and will serve the rest of the sentence both in the UK and Lithuania.

Police said they hoped it sent a message out that no matter where someone was from, they would be tracked down and brought to justice.

Preston Crown Court heard that during the ordeal Jurevicius had repeatedly strangled and beat his victim, in her 20s, in the face. She was left with two black eyes, and battered and bruised.

It happened at Jurevicius' home in Belper Street, Cob Wall, Blackburn, after he had taken her home in the early hours of New Year's Day 2006.

The court heard the victim had been out with friends celebrating and had consumed a consider-able amount of alcohol.

The prosecution said that after visiting pubs, the group went to Liquid nightclub where she met Jurevicius who she mistook for an ex-boyfriend she had dated in the sixth form.

Tim Brennand, prosec-uting, said: "She has a limited recollection of the night. She remembers someone speaking to her in a foreign accent that she thought was Russian."

The pair were filmed on CCTV leaving the club.

Mr Brennand said that she woke in Jurevicius' bed naked from the waist down, with Jurevicius completely naked.

Jurevicius then forced himself on the victim and when she protested beat her and strangled her.

Mr Brennand read out an extract of her witness statement: "I was unable to scream for help due to the tight grip he had on me."

He said that Jurevicius, who worked in the UK as a baker, appeared to regret what he had done making expressions of remorse.

The victim convinced him to let her go, and a taxi was called.

When police called at Jurevicius' home the following day he was not there and, on January 4, he was on CCTV at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, where he took a flight to Riga, Latvia.

In police interview, Jurevicius said the victim had consented at first and then changed her mind.

Tim Storrie, defending, said his client deserved credit for pleading guilty and not making his victim re-live her ordeal in court.

He said the shame he had immediately felt led him to leave the country.

He said: "He was cowardly in leaving, but accepts now with insight that it was cowardice that made him leave. Words not being powerful enough to convey the truth of the motion he simply says sorry'."

Judge Anthony Russell QC said: "It must have been the most terrible ordeal for her. The victim is to be commended for her courage and fortitude in wanting to put this behind her."