A MAN with severe learning difficulties has been jailed after admitting raping a woman while she slept.

Michael James Swan, 36, pleaded guilty to taking advantage of the woman at her Harrogate home after the pair had been drinking heavily throughout the morning and she had taken sleeping pills. Police later found a letter, matching Swan’s handwriting, seemingly apologising to his victim.

York Crown Court heard how Swan, of Bramham Drive in Harrogate, had an IQ of between 62 and 70 – putting him in the bottom one per cent of the population.

Swan and his victim “had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol” at the home of his mother in April last year. The pair then went to the home of the victim and carried on drinking before the woman went to bed.

Tina Dempster, prosecuting, said: “She awoke to find the defendant having sex with her.”

After calling the police, the defendant initially decided not to press charges but later changed her mind.

Upon being arrested later that day, Swan denied the charge and said the letter of apology found by police was relating to an earlier argument.

However, he pleaded guilty after a second letter was handed in to police by a friend of Swan, in the defendant’s handwriting, containing lurid descriptions of fantasies concerning his victim.

Recorder Amanda Rippon sentenced him to three years and two months in prison, and said the letter showed he had a “significant sexual interest” in his victim.

She said: “What makes this offence more serious is the breach of trust. She was in her own home.”