A HEROIN addict has been cleared of raping a young woman -- but has been jailed for 18 months after beating her up when they had sex.

Christopher Knowles Pagani, 20, was cleared of rape by a Burnley Crown Court jury after a four-day trial. The defendant, of Livingstone Street, Brierfield, had earlier denied the sex attack, but admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and was sentenced by Judge Raymond Bennett.

The judge said the assault was partcularly nasty and vicious and he was quite satisfied the defendant had kicked and punched the victim, rather than just slapping her as he had claimed.

He added Pagani's 'dreadful behaviour' had included picking the woman up by her hair and he had left marks on her.

The victim, herself a heroin abuser and whose then boyfriend was in jail, had earlier told the jury Pagani had dragged her upstairs in her own home, pinned her hands above her head and forced sex on her.

She had claimed she had feared for her life and had been left cowering on the floor after the defendant had 'battered' her all around her house.

The woman alleged Pagani punched her and kicked her and had the cheek to turn round and say he was sorry.

He then threw her a rug to wipe the blood from her mouth, told her to stop whingeing and said all women were the same as they were all 'slappers.'

The woman claimed she thought the defendant had locked her into the house and was petrified he would come back and kill her.

Roger Baldwin, defending, said the defendant had attacked the complainant because she had called him useless and pathetic and criticised him for "failing to perform."

He said Pagani had been unable to penetrate the victim because of the effects of heroin.

He told the court the woman had earlier "made a play" for the defendant, had kissed him passionately, had partially undressed and had allowed him to start to perform a sex act on her.

The barrister said Pagani tried to have sex with the woman in an armchair, but she had suggested they should go upstairs.