A STUDENT studying for a PhD in rocket science has been jailed for four years for repeatedly raping a woman he met on a night out.

Abdul Lawal, 40, a former officer in the Nigerian Navy and father-of-two, was convicted of raping the 26-year-old woman at his flat in Kennishead Avenue, Glasgow, on March 11, last year.

The woman said she felt as if the horrific sex attack lasted "forever".

During her ordeal she managed to text a friend stating: "I got raped".

Judge Lady Stacey told Lawal, who was studying for a PhD at Glasgow University: “The jury convicted you of a very serious crime.

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“What you did had an effect on the woman involved. Once the pair of you were alone in the living room, you subjected that woman to a sustained and serious attack.

“You are an educated man and a former officer in the Nigerian Navy. This situation has been brought about by your own actions.

The court heard that the victim fled from the house and was later picked up by her ex-partner, who told the court: "I've never seen her so distressed."

Lawal denied raping the woman and claimed he acted like 'a gentleman."

He claimed that she consented to have sex with him three times.

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Solicitor advocate Jim Wallace, defending, said: “Mr Lawal continues to protest his innocence. He claims this woman left her date to walk with him.”

The trial heard the traumatised woman "felt sick" at the prospect of coming to court, but wanted to ensure Lawal did not do this to another woman.

First offender Lawal claimed the woman was lying and was possibly "regretting" having consensual sex with him, but the jury did not believe him.

He was placed on the sex offenders' register.