A MAN who raped a young woman after tricking his way into her home, has been given a life sentence for public protection.

Paul Fleet subjected the victim to a terrifying three-hour ordeal in January. Fleet, 41, of Warwick Road, Canterbury, admitted the charge when he appeared at Canterbury Crown Court in March after which sentence was adjourned for reports.

At Monday’s sentencing, Judge Anthony Webb said: "You led the woman to believe you needed help yourself by repeatedly knocking on her door.

"You forced your way into her flat and subjected her to a three-hour ordeal. You showed yourself to be a cruel and evil man."

He said he assumed there was a significant risk of serious personal injury to the public by Fleet committing further violent sexual offences and the matters were serious enough to justify a life sentence.

Fleet would only be released if he was considered to no longer be a risk to the public. He will be on licence for the rest of his life and similarly on the sex offenders register.

Oliver Saxby, for Fleet, said he would not be trying to persuade the court a life sentence was not appropriate and said Fleet's best mitigation was his guilty plea which spared the victim having to relive the ordeal.