Seven years jail for Burnley man who raped girl, 17

Sheraz Bhatti's 17-year-old victim, who was a virgin, was on medication and her drink may have been laced, Burnley Crown Court heard.

She was virtually insensible and incapable of any control when the defendant, who had taken cocaine, struck in February last year, the court was told.

Bhatti, 27, of Ivy Street, Burnley, was jailed for seven years, disqualified from working with children and put on the sex offenders' register for life.

He had earlier admitted causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and failing to surrender.

Judge Andrew Woolman tsaid it was an extremely unpleasant series of acts in a sustained attack.

Hilary Manley, prosecuting, told the court the victim, a nursery carer, had been out with friends in Burnley. She felt tired and sick, couldn't focus, and kept banging into things after she took a sip from her unguarded drink.

They went back to a house in Westgate, Burnley, and the girl, who had had two vodka and cokes, became so ill she was put to bed at about 10.30pm, fully clothed. The party continued and Bhatti arrived with two other men.

Miss Manley said Bhatti, who had had four or five lines of cocaine, said he was going to check on the victim even though they were complete strangers.

The girl recalled feeling dizzy and heard something like the sound of jeans zipping and a man whispering.

The defendant then got her to perform a sex act on him and penetrated her twice. The victim tried to push him off but couldn't.

Police were called and the girl was found to have injuries. Bhatti was arrested in the early hours of the next morning and taken to Burnley police station.

The defendant had no previous convictions for sex offences.

Martin Hackett, defending, said Bhatti's family was standing by him.

He wished to serve his sentence, be released and to try and get on with the rest of his life.

The barrister added: "I have to accept it may be hard for the complainant to do the same."