A PRESTON man found guilty of raping a woman who had turned to him for help was this week granted permission to appeal.
Parhibah Patel, 59, of Lark Hill Street, Preston, won the first round of his legal battle to clear his name at the Criminal Court of Appeal on Tuesday.
He is currently serving a five-year sentence after being convicted of rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Preston Crown Court last May.
Mr Justice Pitchers, sitting with Lord Justice Waller and Judge Martin Stephens, said: "Patel has an arguable case. It will be for the full court to decide whether these convictions were safe." No date was given for the full hearing of Patel's appeal.
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