A FACTORY production manager who raped a woman and then fled to Iraq to evade justice has been jailed for 52 months.

Sarkawt Mohammed, 40, fled the country before he could be charged by police over the sex attack, which followed a house party in December 2015, Preston Crown Court heard.

But Mohammed, of Addison Street, Blackburn, was arrested by police as soon as he flew back into Manchester Airport last October, the court was told.

He pleaded guilty to two offences of rape and has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Jailing him, Judge Beverley Lunt told Mohammed he had extended the ordeal of his victim by fleeing to his native Iraq.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said the victim was at a house party with Mohammed when the pair left to buy more alcohol from a nearby garage.

He told her he needed to conduct checks at his factory, when the 10pm shift finished, so they drove there, she added.

After Mohammed had pulled up in the car, said Ms Kehoe, he started to kiss the woman. She initially kissed him back but then drew away and told him not to.

The pair returned to the party, the court was told, where there was more drinking and dancing, before everyone went to bed.

The victim was asleep in a double bed, alongside her best friend, when Mohammed came to their bedroom later.

Ms Kehoe said he tried to to undress her first, before he turned his attentions to her friend briefly, then returned to her. He removed her clothing and groped her before the rape began.

The victim shouted at him to stop but he just placed his hand over her mouth, added Ms Kehoe. Once Mohammed had finished he then climbed on top of her friend.

Ms Kehoe said the victim cried out: “What are you doing? You have just raped me and now you are on top of my best friend.”

The court heard the victim immediately told others in the house about the attack and Mohammed was arrested.

Interviewed by police, he denied the rape had taken place but then left the UK to live in Iraq for 35 months.

Shirlie Duckworth, defending, said her client, who was of previous good character, “wishes he could turn back time” because of the effect on his victim.