A TEENAGER who raped a girl while babysitting has been put behind bars for four and a half years.

The judge passing sentence told David Malacky-Terrell: "You are a dangerous young man".

Malacky-Terrell told the court he could not remember carrying out the sex attack because he had taken a cocktail of drugs beforehand.

At the end of a Preston Crown Court hearing, the 18-year-old was also placed on seven years extended supervision and told he would have to sign be on the Sex Offenders' Register for the rest of his life.

The defendant of Wallbank Drive, Whitworth, had pleaded guilty to a charge of rape. He was seventeen at the time of the offence.

Carolyn Johnson, prosecuting said Malacky-Terrell was babysitting at the time of the offence in April when he forced himself upon a teenage girl.

She felt terrible, was shocked and unable to speak during the assault. The girl -- who had never been sexually active -- was later prescribed the morning after pill. DNA samples later linked him to her.

The court heard that he had sixteen previous convictions for theft, public disorder and assault, though none for any matters of a sexual nature.

Kath Johnson, defending, said the teenager appreciated that he would receive youth custody.

"He expresses remorse for his involvement in this offence. He does feel great shame and remorse.

"He has little recollection of the events. He had taken a cocktail of drugs during the course of that evening -- heroin, ecstasy and crack cocaine."

His remand in custody had been a difficult period, his father having recently died.

Miss Johnson added "At the end of the sentence the defendant wishes too make a fresh start and to move away from this area. He is resolved to keep away from drugs and further offending".

Judge Andrew Blake told Malacky-Terrell that even at his young age, he had a record which went back a long way.

He went on to add "What you have got to realise is that you must keep away from drugs. You said you can't remember what happened on that evening.

"That in itself is an extremely worrying prospect for the future".