A TEENAGER has been given a five-year jail sentence for raping a woman he met during a night out.

Craig Paget, 18, told his victim: "We live, we die," before pushing her up against a fence and putting his arm across her throat, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The court heard that the woman had earlier consented to sex with Paget, who was living in Bacup and working as a waiter.

Judge Raymond Bennett said the defendant's later attack had degraded and violated the 22-year-old woman.

He added: "A woman is entitled to say 'no,' even if she has agreed the first time."

The judge added that in 30 years in the law, he had only ever known a handful of men to be brave enough to own up to what they had done.

Paget, who had been bailed to his father's address in Adcocks Green, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, in October 1997.

Dennis Watson, prosecuting, said the woman met Paget, who was drunk, on an evening out in Rawtenstall.

He suggested they go to a relative's in Bacup to a party and then they went for a walk.

They had sex in a lane near to playing fields. After that the woman, cold and wet, wanted to go home, but Paget's behaviour began to concern her.

He said: "We live, we die," and became violent before twice raping her.

Afterwards, Paget had his arm across the frightened woman's throat before saying: "This position or die."

The victim managed to poke her fingers into Paget's eyes ands was able to run away, half dressed, to residents of a nearby street.

Paul Hague, defending, said Paget had come to court knowing a substantial term of custody was inevitable.

He was effectively "picked up" by the woman who phoned her mother and made up a story why she would not be returning home.

She knew Paget was drunk and both had smoked cannabis.

He went on: "The defendant has pleaded guilty.

"That is a brave thing for a young man to do, knowing full well the consequences."

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