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A rapist has been jailed for more than nine years after he brutally attacked a woman as she walked home from a night out.

Derrick Mutambuka spotted the female in a street in Sunderland city centre in the early hours of the morning and dragged her into an alleyway before violently raping her.

Newcastle Crown Court was told the woman’s screams caught the attention of a passing male, who tried to stop the attack, but was himself assaulted by Mutambuka and forced to back away.

Prosecutors said the twisted pervert then continued with the sickening rape before another male intervened and chased him away.

The victim was left extremely traumatised and suffered 34 injuries, including abrasions, cuts and reddening, as a result of the vile attack.

Now, Mutambuka, 18, has been jailed for nine years and nine months after being found guilty after trial of one count of rape, one of sexual assault and two counts of common assault.

Branding him dangerous, Judge Robert Adams said: “You’re thought to be a high risk of harm to the public because of the nature of these offences - both sexual harm and psychological harm.

“It goes without saying in this case that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”

The court heard Mutambuka had been out drinking in Sunderland City Centre on the evening of December 19 2015 and had “become aroused” after dancing in a nightclub.

At around 3.15am, he launched his first sex attack on a lone woman walking along Hilton Road,

On that occasion, he pushed his victim up against shop window shutters and touched her groin area before trying to put his hands down trousers.

Andrew Espley, prosecuting, said a passing male chased him off and walked the woman home.

Not put off, Mutambuka spotted another lone female making her way back to her house after a night out and launched his vile attack after dragging her into an alleyway near Matamba Terrace.

Mr Espley said the woman’s screams were heard by a passing member of public but he was forced to back away when he was kicked by Mutambuka.

The sick pervert then continued raping the woman until a concerned local resident intervened and chased him away.

The court was told Mutambuka twice spat at the man, which contained blood, in a bid to escape. DNA evidence from the spit linked Mutambuka to the scene and the woman’s DNA was also found on his trousers.

Mutambuka was arrested and found guilty after trial in what Judge Adams described as “an overwhelming case”.

The judge said: “Arguably, this was an abduction, she was dragged into an alley where she was raped. Arguably, this was prolonged ordeal because the rape was maintained after [the first male] interrupted.

“You did use violence. She was a lone female at night, perhaps not particularly vulnerable but it is still an aggravating factor.”

Ekwall Tiwana, defending, said Mutambuka was 17 at the time and was now remorseful after accepting what he had done.

He said: “This young man was passed from pillar to post between his mother, father and grandmother, and passed from country to country. He went back to Rwanda for a short time, so, in his very young years, he was subject to a very unsatisfactory family life.”

Mutambuka was also made to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.