A BACUP man has been jailed for a total of six years for the double rape of a woman and an assault.

Clarence Simcock, 45, of Hammerton Green, appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of rape involving the same woman.

He also admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm relating to a male victim.

Rebecca Hirst, prosecuting, told the court the offences took place earlier this year on the same day in the Lancashire area.

The woman had had her coat ripped off by Simcock causing the buttons to come off and then he had "forced himself" on the woman.

He then raped her again.

Miss Hirst said that during the second rape the victim: "Tried to get the defendant off and scratched his face. He slapped her.”

The assault related to Simock getting hold of his victim by the throat, Miss Hirst said.

The woman managed to contact police. An examination revealed she had sustained injuries.

Tim Storrie, defending, said: "This was a very serious episode."

The offences had taken place while Simcock was in drink.

Simcock was remorseful for his actions and had pleaded guilty.

"He has expressed contrition and appreciates the emotional harm he has done," Mr Storrie told the court.

Jailing Simcock, Judge Jonathan Gibson told him: "Rape is a crime which is a terrible one which has awful consequences for the victim."

Simcock was jailed for five years and four months for the rapes and eight months consecutively for the assault.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.