A BURNLEY man who raped two friends as they slept after New Year’s Eve drinks has been told that he is facing a jail term of at least five years after being convicted by a jury.

Prosecutors insisted that neither of the women, who had been drinking Bacardi with Andrew Johnson, were able to give any form of consent to the sexual intercourse, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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They described how they felt sleepy shortly after sharing a celebratory drink with Johnson, the court heard.

And both later told police how when they awoke, to their surprise, Johnson was having sex with them.

Later when he was challenged about his conduct by one of their friends on Facebook, he apologised but was adamant that he loved one of the women.

Remanding Johnson on bail for pre-sentence reports until June 16, Recorder Philip Grundy, said: “It will be a custodial sentence of some length.

“The starting point is five years and upwards.

“But if there are factors which you wish to place before the court, and you want to get your affairs in order then I will allow you bail.”

Jurors took just over an hour to unanimously convict Johnson, of Oat Street, Padiham, of two charges of rape and one offence of sexual assault after a three-day trial.

Joe Boyd, defending, said that his client’s previous criminal record was only for petty offences and there were no sexual convictions. He had also been on bail throughout the proceedings.

Mr Recorder Grundy said Johnson must continue to ensure he has no contact with the two women involved in the case and live and sleep at his Padiham address until he is sentenced. The defendant must also sign the sex offenders’ register.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said one of the women, was alone on New Year’s Eve and invited a friend over for drinks. Johnson joined them later after also making contact via social media.

One of the victims, after waking to find Johnson having sex with her, shouted at him to stop. She then went to a nearby bathroom, where she found her friend asleep on the floor.

The court heard the next morning one of the victims, who had gone to sleep on a sofa downstairs, awoke again to find Johnson kissing the back of her neck and groping her, again without her knowledge.

Arrested and interviewed about the incidents, Johnson accepted having sexual intercourse with both of the women but was adamant that on each occasion it was consensual.

Mr McEntee said it was the Crown’s case that if the women were incapacitated by alcohol, and asleep, then they could not have given any form of consent for the sex to take place.