A MAN who raped a drunk 15-year-old girl in her own home has been jailed for seven years.

Martin Payton twice raped the girl, who was so drunk that she had vomited and passed out before the incident.

The 28-year-old attended a party at the victim’s home in May 2014 for which he had bought alcohol after being asked by the girl, who was in year 10 at school at the time.

After being "rendered senseless" through alcohol consumption, the girl vomited, passed out and had to go to bed.

She later found herself in the same bed as Payton, of Old Wargrave Road in Newton-le-Willows, in the early hours and the pair began to kiss.

Her recollection is "unclear and hazy" but she remembers him being on top of her.

When she woke up her lower clothing had been removed and there was blood on the sheets – she went downstairs "confused, crying and upset".

He then asked her if she wanted to have sex but the girl refused and went back to sleep.

Waking up again at around 5am, she found that her lower clothes had again been removed and she had "no idea" what had happened – Warrington Crown Court heard that it was likely that Payton had raped her while she was unconscious.

Payton was arrested and admitted having sex with the girl on two occasions but said it was consensual and that he thought she was 16. He later admitted two counts of rape but not until the first day of his trial earlier this year.

A victim personal statement that was read out in court said that the 15-year-old was previously an "outgoing, sociable person" who regularly attended school and achieved good grades.

The court heard that she was "polite and kind" to people and her teachers reported that they "couldn’t wish for a nicer girl".

But she describes that "things went off the rails" after the rape, leading to her missing school, failing exams, losing confidence and self-esteem, having panic attacks and sleeping problems, experiencing stress and anxiety and drinking and taking drugs.

She added that Payton had "taken her childhood away from her".

Payton was described as "ashamed and genuinely remorseful", while the court heard the incident "eats away at him every day" – he has attempted suicide twice since the incident and self-harmed.

The court heard Payton has a ‘long history’ of psychological difficulties and a ‘troubled’ background – he hoped that a custodial period would allow him to ‘reset his life’ and that he ‘wants to be a better person.

Judge Tina Landale sentenced Payton to seven years imprisonment, plus an indefinite sexual harm prevention order – he will serve half of his sentence before being released on licence.

Sentencing, judge Landale said: “I accept that that the alcohol was not purchased in order for you to rape a child, but having purchased the alcohol and seen her consume it you must have realised she was in a bad way.

“She was rendered senseless and unable to walk or talk properly – she passed out after vomiting.

“Afterwards she was crying and upset – you couldn’t have failed to realise the impact your attack had on her but you went on to attack her again.

“You couldn’t have possibly believed she was consenting.

“This has had a significant effect on her – it has changed her personality, she has failed exams, she has lost confidence and she has had panic attack.

“She was a vulnerable girl and you were aware of how vulnerable she was.”