A MAN who finally admitted raping a woman 22 months after the event, with his trial looming, has been jailed for six years and four months.

Douglas Michael Hodgson, known as ‘Dougie’, admitted sexually assaulting the woman, but denied raping her in an incident in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, on April 3, 2015.

A trial was due to begin at Durham Crown Court, on February 23, but, with six days to go, Hodgson also admitted the rape charge.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing, however, that the Crown was told on February 1 that Hodgson intended to change his plea, allowing the victim and other witnesses to be told they did not have to give evidence at trial.

Mr Dodds said the incident took place after the woman, in her late teens, was invited to watch films by other members of Hodgson’s family.

Next morning she woke, suspecting she had been interfered with, and in later social media messages with the defendant, told him: “I know exactly what you did to me last night.”

Hodgson “swore down” he had not raped her, although he did admit indecently assaulting her.

Mr Dodds said the woman did not believe him and confided in a friend and a relative before alerting police.

It was the wait for forensic results, subsequently confirming the victim’s belief, which caused the delay in the case coming to court earlier, added Mr Dodds.

Reading from her impact statement, the victim said the rape “completely ruined my life”, as she felt “violated” by Hodgson.

She said she felt “hatred” for him, as it has had deep psychological effects and she has been diagnosed with depression.

The court heard that Hodgson, who is 30 this week, and whose address given in court was Newton Aycliffe, has only one, unrelated, past offence on his record and has never been to prison.

Scott Smith, mitigating, said it may “ring hollow” with the victim, but Hodgson acknowledged the distress he has caused his victim by his conduct that night, and “ultimately” entered his guilty plea, albeit at a late stage in proceedings.

Jailing him, Judge Christopher Prince said for much of the time since the incident Hodgson stuck by his “lie” about events that night, until his late plea in proceedings with the trial approaching.

As a result, the judge said it limited the deduction in his ultimate sentence which would have been eight years had the case gone to trial.

Hodgson must, now, register as a sex offender and was made subject of a restraining order, forbidding him from contacting or approaching the victim, both for life.