Dundee man jailed over rape of sleeping woman

A rapist who contacted his victim to admit what happened was “wrong” has been jailed for four and a half years.

Thomas Hughes pounced on the woman at a flat in Dundee in June last year.

The 35 year-old molested her as she slept before having sex with her when she woke up.

Hughes was today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow having earlier been convicted of rape.

He had denied the accusation during a trial in Edinburgh.

Lord Summers told him: “You took advantage of a woman when she was in no position to consent to your advances.”

The judge added the crime was of “extreme seriousness”.

Hughes, also of Dundee, mouthed “I love you” to a woman in the public gallery as he was lead to the cells.

Jurors heard how the predator had contacted his victim after the attack via social media and telephone calls.

He told her: “I have explained that what I did was wrong.”

Hughes later stated to police that he had sex with the woman and then “put her back to bed”.

The victim went on to tell a friend what had happened to her.

The trial heard claims Hughes had apparently urged the woman to go to the police – but that she instead “barraged” him with calls and texts.

Hughes was also placed on the sex offenders list indefinitely.