Jail for man after bedroom rape

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7982216.stm

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A man has been jailed for six years for raping a Belfast woman in her own bed.

Tonderai Chakwana, 34, with an address on Belfast's Ormeau Road was convicted by a jury last month of raping the woman on July 18 last year.

Chakwana maintained he had consensual sex with the 23-year old woman, but after presiding over the trial the judge branded the offence as "serious".

Chakwana, who is originally from Zimbabwe, was also placed on the sex offenders register.

During the trial, the jury was told the victim and her friend had been drinking in her house on the evening of July 17. Chakwana and a friend called at the house in the early hours of the following morning.

The victim went to bed and when she woke, she checked her mobile phone and saw she had a text from Chakwana.

She realised Chakwana had raped her during the night. The jury also heard she had refused to have sex with him on two previous occasions prior to the rape.

She reported the rape that afternoon and Chakwana was arrested that evening. While in custody, he claimed he had consensual sex with her but this claim was rejected by the jury who found him guilty of rape.

Sentencing Chakwana at Belfast Crown Court, Judge Babington told him his actions had caused the victim "difficulties".

He told the defendant - who is currently seeking asylum in Northern Ireland after leaving his home country for "political reasons" - he had not expressed any remorse for his behaviour.

Chakwana was also placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period and was banned from working with children.