AN ILLEGAL immigrant who raped a woman in a deserted side street has been jailed for eight years.

A court heard that the victim, who had gone out with friends in Leigh to celebrate her 26th birthday, had feared she was going to die during the attack.

The young mum is now afraid of going out alone, even shopping, her relationship with her partner has been affected and she has been prescribed antidepressants and counselling.

Jailing Majid Mullaaga, Judge Graham Morrow QC said: “You knew she was likely to be under the influence of alcohol, you tried to buy sex from her but when she refused you forced yourself on her. You grabbed her from behind and put your hand over her mouth when she tried to scream.”

The woman had gone into the narrow road to urinate and was crouching down when he approached and raped her.

Robert Golinski, prosecuting, said that she feared for her life and did not struggle but her screaming alerted a passer-by.

Mullaaga had relaxed his grip and she managed to escape and run to the passer-by in tears.

Mullaaga, of Manley Park, Leigh, denied raping the woman in the early hours of July 31 last year but was convicted after a week-long trial last month.

Judge Morrow ordered Mullaaga, who has no previous convictions, to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. He did not order his deportation as the length of the sentence means he will be automatically deported after his sentence.

Mullaaga came to this country in 2006 but his claim for asylum was rejected.