A RAPIST wept as his victim told him how he had shattered her life by having sex with her while she slept.

Paul Cook, 35, was red-faced and crying as his victim told him from the witness box at Teesside Crown Court that initially she had felt it had been her fault.

Judge Peter Armstrong jailed Cook, from Lingdale, east Cleveland, for six years after hearing he has a fetish for so-called “sleep sex”.

The judge described it as “a perverted interest” after hearing it had happened before with another woman.

Cook admitted he took advantage of the woman to satisfy a “deviant” interest, which he had convinced himself was normal.

He later walked into a police station to confess what he had done before a complaint was made, the court was told.

His barrister, Stephen Grattage, said Cook now appreciated his “outrageous” behaviour was rape and caused emotional distress.

Mr Grattage said Cook showed remorse and was “devastated” by his actions, and added that he had “normalised” his behaviour.

The victim took up her option to read her victim personal statement in person.

She said she felt worthless, used and manipulated by a man who said it was “no big deal”, and has needed counselling.

“I will never trust anyone again,” she added. “I was scared that I wouldn’t be believed.”

Prosecutor Caroline Wigin told the court that Cook told the woman it was her fault because she “looked so sexy asleep”.

Judge Armstrong said he did not accept a suggestion by a probation officer that Cook’s behaviour seemed to be “naive”.

He told Cook: “You developed a sexual fetish in what you called sleep sex... a perverted interest as I’m going to call it.

“Completely contrary to her wishes and consent, you took advantage of a situation. Your fetish kicked in and you had sex with her when she was asleep."

Cook, of Scarth Close, Lingdale, admitted five charges of rape, and was given a sexual harm prevention order requiring him to tell future sexual partners of his rape conviction.

He was given a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim in this case, referring to her on social media or approaching her home, and will be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.