A MAN who raped a terrified mum as her children slept soundly next door has failed in his bid to cut his eight-year jail term.

John Devitt, 27, of Ivinson Road, Darwen, kicked his victim twice in the chest and told her she was "going to be taught a lesson" before raping her in her own bedroom.

After the ordeal Devitt told his terrified victim he had "not meant to be like that" before leaving her with a good-bye kiss.

She was so desperate to get him out of the house and away from her young children, she responded with a peck on the cheek, the Appeal Court was told.

Lord Justice Kay, sitting in London, dismissed Devitt's claims that his eight-year sentence was "manifestly excessive".

But he overturned a four-year extended supervision order which would have allowed the authorities to keep close tabs on Devitt for four years after his sentence expired.

The judge said the offence was exacerbated by its occurrence in the woman's own home adding: "She was entitled to expect in her own home she would be free of an attack of the sort that occurred here.

"There was also in this case the aggravating feature of the children's presence that made this woman particularly vulnerable."

Her ability to fight back or flee the situation had been hampered by the fact that her two children were in such close proximity -- a fact that was "well known" to Devitt, the court heard.

He at one point locked the bedroom door from the inside to prevent her escape and threatened to hurt her unless she submitted.

Devitt was convicted of rape at Preston Crown Court in April last year and was jailed by Judge Brian Duckworth.

Paul Browne, ward councillor in Sudell, said Devitt's sentence was too short.

The Liberal Democrat leader, said today: " His victim won't be free in eight years so why should he. A case like this affects the whole of Darwen. "