A man repeatedly raped a terrified woman he kept prisoner in a house for five hours before apologising and handing himself to police.

James Whitley, 30, who had could offer no explanation for the attack, said his life had spiralled out of control after losing his jobs a few months previously.

Whitley, of Annie Street, Accrington, was described by his victim as looking " wide eyed and quite unhinged".

After the attack Whitely apologised to his victim, telling her he was going to prison.

Half and hour later he went to Accrington police station and handed himself in.

He was jailed for five years after admitting sexual assault, three counts of rape and one of assault at Burnley Crown Court.

The court heard that Whitley had now spent 119 days in the cells trying to work out if he could understand what happened.

His barrister Charlotte Holland told the court: "He can’t explain what happened, but clearly his life was spiralling totally out of control."

Louise Whaites, prosecuting, said Whitley pushed the victim into a room and told her to lie on the floor and shut up. He sat on her, put his hand over her mouth, pinned her arm above her head and raped her.

She had begged him to stop throughout, but he had ordered her to be quiet. He then raped her a second time.

The defendant put his hand around the victim’s throat and pushed down.

Whitley pulled her to the floor, squeezed her neck and she managed to scratch his face so that he let go.

The defendant then apologised to his victim and said he would be going to prison.

Miss Whaites said just over half an hour later, Whitley walked into Accrington police station. He appeared to be in shock and told an officer he had lost it.

He told staff he had come to hand himself in as he had tried to strangle the woman. He was arrested, interviewed and made no comment.

Charlotte Holland, for Whitley, said he had always been hard working, but had lost his job a year ago.

Miss Holland continued: "He has absolutely no explanation at all for the way he behaved. He can’t explain what happened, but clearly his life was spiralling totally out of control."

Sentencing, Judge Simon Newell told the defendant his actions had shown domination and had been humiliating for the victim. He added: "You kept her in a house for several hours. These were very, very serious offences."

The defendant, who had no previous convictions, was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.