A NEWPORT man who raped a woman while she pretended to be asleep in a “gross breach of trust” has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

John Amos, aged 27, of Prince Street, pleaded guilty to a single rape charge relating to an incident at the victim’s home on July 14 of this year. He had been on remand.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the victim, who cannot be named, had been drinking that night and had been sick as a result. She later fell asleep, where the defendant laid beside her on her bed.

Michael Jones, prosecuting, said the victim turned Amos down earlier that night, which he apologised for, but he then went on to rape her in her own bed while she “pretended to be asleep”.

The prosecutor said it was a “gross breach of trust” and it was “quite clear that this incident has had a profound effect on her”.

“Not only was she a vulnerable young woman, she was in an obvious vulnerable state because of her intoxication,” Mr Jones said.

Describing the moment she was raped, the victim later said in her police interview: “I froze, I was so scared. I didn’t know what to do. I panicked.”

After the incident, Amos left the house and within minutes sent her a number of text messages which were read out in court.

These included: “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I understand if you don’t want to speak to me. I just want you to know I’m really sorry.”

The victim went to the police later that day and Amos was arrested at his workplace. Upon being taken into custody, he said: “I shouldn’t have done it. I don’t know why I did it.”

In his police interview, he later added he “couldn’t help” himself and “knew it was wrong”.

In her victim impact statement, which was read out in court, the victim said she had difficulties sleeping and trusting people outside of her immediate family as a result.

She said she bathed and showered with as much soap and hot water as possible because she “doesn’t feel clean”.

”I’m just existing, just a shell,” she added.

“I don’t know how long I can keep blocking things out. I’m really scared for what I’m going to do if I do break.”

Gareth Williams, defending, noted that Amos was previously of good character and there was “clear remorse".

“It’s incredibly rare in a case like this for a defendant to be so frank in relation to his guilt,” he said.

“He clearly had very strong feelings for her and on that occasion, it seems quite out of character, that was expressed in a way that was wholly, wholly unacceptable.

“His references describe him as a kind, gentle, trustworthy man. This was wholly unexpected from a man like this.”

Summing up, Recorder IWL Jones took Amos’ early guilty plea into account but said the offence was so serious that “it can only be prison”.

“You did it for your own selfish sexual gratification - no other reason,” he said. “The phrase ruined and broken has been used. It’s an entirely appropriate phrase it seems to me.”

Recorder Jones sentenced Amos to eight years in prison and he will have to serve half of this in custody.

Amos will be on the sexual offenders register for life and an indefinite restraining order means he will be unable to contact the victim or enter her address.