A LITTLE Downham man has been jailed for nine years for the calculating attempted rape of a woman in London. Reece Reddington of Matthew Wren Close, was found guilty of two counts of attempted rape following a three-day trial at Woolwich Crown Court. A

A LITTLE Downham man has been jailed for nine years for the "calculating" attempted rape of a woman in London.

Reece Reddington of Matthew Wren Close, was found guilty of two counts of attempted rape following a three-day trial at Woolwich Crown Court.

A statement released by New Scotland Yard branded unemployed Reddington's actions "disgusting", and the court heard how the 19-year-old carried out the vicious pre-meditated attack on an 18-year-old woman in Bexley, London.

The victim was asleep with her boyfriend in her flat in April last year when Reddington, an acquaintance of the couple, tried to gain access to the flat by buzzing the intercom system at 3am.

Reddington was invited up to the flat where he suggested they went to an off-licence to buy some alcohol in his car.

After they arrived at the Plumstead shop, the victim stayed in the car while her boyfriend and Reddington went into the shop.

Reddington told the victim's boyfriend to choose the beer and left some money on the counter for him before he ran from the off-licence.

By the time the victim's boyfriend realised there was only 45 pence on the counter, Reddington had already driven away with the victim in his car - he had told her that her boyfriend had been caught stealing and they had to leave before the police arrived.

Later, when the victim called her boyfriend from a payphone to check on him, Reddington grabbed the receiver and spoke to him instead. After hanging up, he told the victim her boyfriend was getting a cab home. The victim's boyfriend was actually walking back home from the off-licence.

When Reddington and the victim returned to her flat, he became violent and attempted to rape her. She fought back and screamed and shouted to attract the attention of the neighbours. Reddington tried to silence her by threatening to kill her and forcing a jumper into her face to stop her screaming.

The victim defended herself, forcing Reddington to run from the flat. The victim then went outside to seek help from neighbours and saw Reddington get into his car.

Bexley police arrested Reddington in June at his Little Downham home and at an identification parade the victim, her boyfriend and an independent witness all positively identified him. He was charged in July and was remanded in custody.

Reddington pleaded not guilty when his trial began in November, but he was found guilty three weeks later - the judge said he should expect a "substantial custodial sentence".

He was sentenced to nine years imprisonment and received a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, preventing him from entering the borough of Bexley or contacting the victim in any way. Reddington will also be put on the Sex Offender's Register for life.

Investigating Officer, Pc Peter Thompson said, "Reece Reddington was a calculating and manipulative individual. His actions on this night were truly disgusting and the victim will have to live with this for the rest of her life. We sincerely hope that this sentence can help the victim put the matter behind her.