A thug who repeatedly punched a woman and threatened to rape her has been jailed, a court heard.

Matthew Stephenson, of Walton Street, Accrington, dragged her by the neck and hair, threatened to rape her, made inappropriate sexual remarks and sat on her for 45 minutes in a house before allowing her to leave, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Stephenson, 27, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking.

He was jailed for 27 months, ordered to pay a £900 criminal courts charge and given an indefinite restraining order.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, told the court how the victim had tried to leave when she saw him kick a kitchen door.

He dragged her into the house by her neck and when she tried to leave ‘squared up to her’ and ‘put his face within an inch of her in an attempt to intimidate her’.

The court heard how Stephenson then said ‘I’m going to rape you,’ leaving the victim feeling ‘terrified’.

Ms Kehoe said Stephenson then attacked her before stopping and apologising.

The incident was also overheard by a neighbour who described hearing screaming, crying and banging.