Two men jailed for Carlisle Christmas Eve rape

Two men have been jailed for a total of almost 15 years after a woman was repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted on Christmas Eve in Carlisle.

The victim initially thought strangers 40-year-old Kabir Hussain, and 31-year-old Marco Martins were trying to help her as she left a city pub in a drunken state during the early hours.

Carlisle Crown Court heard she was "sandwiched" between the pair - and even carried at one stage - while being led through the city centre on the promise of being taken to a taxi.

But instead she was lured to a flat where she was raped twice by Hussain and once by a third man who was arrested by police but has since absconded.

During the first of Hussein's attacks, Martins sexually assaulted the terrified woman. She had attempted to distract Hussain with talk of religion and Christmas.

"But he was not for stopping," said prosecutor Tim Evans. "Throughout it all she was begging to be allowed home but none of the men responded."

The woman was said to have been left "numb" by the ordeal. "I know I will obviously never be able to forget what's happened," she said in a statement, "but right now I just simply don't know how to move on."

Hussain, of Dod Street, London, admitted two rape charges and one sexual assault, while Martins pleaded guilty to one sexual assault charge.

Martins, of Borland Avenue, Carlisle, had been located by police following a Christmas Day public appeal.

Hussain and Martins were sentenced today, Friday 16 March, by Judge James Adkin, who handed down sentences of 11 years and 45 months, respectively.

Judge Adkin told the men, who must each sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely, they had committed a "most grossly degrading sexual attack".