A MAN who was convicted of raping a woman after he turned up at her home armed with a gun and his pet dog Tyson has been jailed for public protection. Mandell Mullings, 23, was told his release date would be decided by the Parole Board. He must serve fi

A MAN who was convicted of raping a woman after he turned up at her home armed with a "gun" and his pet dog Tyson has been jailed for public protection.

Mandell Mullings, 23, was told his release date would be decided by the Parole Board. He must serve five years less time spent on remand before he can apply for parole and will be on licence indefinitely.

Judge Geoffrey Breen told him: "Your victim was kept a virtual prisoner for hours on end during which she was well aware you intended to rape her.

"You had a gun with you, which was an imitation, but a convincing imitation, and she believed it was real. Also you told her you had given her former boyfriend 'Mars bars' - that is to say scars - all over his face. She was fearful for her own safety and for that of her children who were in bed at the time."

The judge said the victim had not been back to the house and had now left Stevenage. "She still does not feel safe in her own home. She has so many locks and bolts in place that she feels it is her that is in prison," he added.

Mullings, of Archer Road, Stevenage was convicted by a jury at Luton Crown Court in August of rape, attempted rape and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He had pleaded not guilty.

The offences happened in the early hours of February 16.

The jury were told that Mullings and a male friend woke the woman up and barged into her house. She knew the other man but only knew Mullings by sight.

He was armed with a ball bearing gun which looked very like a real gun to the victim. His dog - a Staffordshire bull terrier was running around "going loopy" and the defendant was waving the gun around and swigging from a bottle of whisky.

The prosecutor said Mullings made it plain to her that he was going to have sex with her, which she did not want to happen. When he first attempted sex with her the other man intervened and was assaulted and chased from the property.

He then went on to rape her and cook himself some breakfast before leaving. He was arrested later that day.

Jack Walsh, defending, said on Friday: "He is capable of change. He was drunk when these matters took place. He is determined to deal with that.

"He has the support of his family and that support will be on going.

"He wishes to say he is sorry for the upset and distress he has caused."

Judge Breen said Mullings had previous convictions for violence and robbery and also had "a distorted attitude about his sexual entitlements".

"I have come to the conclusion that you do pose a risk to the public.