Man jailed for rape in town park

A man has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for raping a 26-year-old woman in a park in Bodmin, Cornwall.

Barry Luxton, 38, who is deaf, was convicted at Truro Crown Court in October for the attack in July 2008.

Recorder Nigel Pascoe QC said he had taken into account that Luxton would be a disadvantaged prisoner, but reports indicated he would be able to cope.

Luxton, of the Kinsman Estate in Bodmin, was told to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

His trial was told that Luxton had met his victim in a Bodmin nightclub where they had kissed.

He followed her through the park, pushing her to the ground and raping her when she rejected his advances.

He apologised before running off, but after his arrest claimed his victim had sexually assaulted him.