A MAN has been jailed for six years for a sex attack on a vulnerable woman in a park.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Richard Layfield, 24, targeted the 33-year-old woman, who had learning difficulties, on land off Brunswick Street, Burnley Wood.

Layfield, of Hufling Lane, Burnley, had admitted three counts of sexual activity with a vulnerable person.

He was jailed and also given six years’ extended licence and was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Det Insp Simon Cheyte said: “Both the victim and her boyfriend are extremely vulnerable as they have significant and noticeable learning difficulties.

“Layfield preyed on the victim and took advantage of her vulnerability and she was left extremely upset and traumatised by the ordeal.

"Offences such as this are rare, and we will continue to do everything we can to identify offenders and bring them to justice.”

At court, Brian McKenna, defending, said: “The victim came across to him as being slow and he took advantage of that for his own gratification.”

Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Gibson told Layfield he accepted his actions had not been predatory, but he was clearly prone to risk-taking behaviour, particularly when under the influence of drink and or drugs.

The judge, who had read psychiatric and pre-sentence reports on Layfrield, said they described him as posing a ‘very high risk of reoffending’.

There was concern he had a lack of victim empathy and didn’t acknowledge the inappropriateness of his behaviour.

The defendant was said to have an attitude of disrespect for woman and tried to minimise his offending.

Judge Gibson said: “There is extremely significant work which needs to be done with you while you are in custody and also in the community.”