A LEIGH man convicted of raping a woman has been jailed for six years and ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Graham Rawsthorn, aged 47, of Beech Walk, Pennington, had been convicted of the offence by a Liverpool Crown Court jury.

The court heard that the incident occurred at Rawsthorn’s home on January 14 last year. After having a few drinks at the house the victim fell asleep on the settee and was covered with a duvet.

Later she woke to find Rawsthorn was raping her. He got off and pretended that nothing had happened and she was unsure whether she had just been dreaming.

She later realised what had happened, left the house and called police.Rawsthorn, who has dual American/British nationality and whose children live in the USA, denied the offence.