Wearing a condom saved a brutal rapist an extra year in jail, but Alan Rudolph Tait is set to serve nine years for the attack which left his victim traumatised.

However Tait's lawyers are set to appeal the sentence.

Tait, 25, of Cook's Hill Road, Sandys Parish, had been found guilty of serious sexual assault earlier this month.

But at yesterday's sentencing hearing Puisne Judge Philip Storr chided Tait for showing no remorse to the repeated sexual assault.

The court heard how his 38-year-old victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was still suffering from mental trauma after the attack in March.

At the trial on November 2 the court heard how the victim had been flagged down while riding her bike by Tait who asked her for a lift.

She was then forced to ride to the Railway Trail, near Sound View Road, Sandys Parish where she was raped several times on a patch of grass.

In the Supreme Court yesterday her statement read: "I have totally isolated myself from being around other people. I don't like to go out. When I'm out I feel people are staring. I don't ride my bike anymore because it brings back unpleasant memories.

"I am constantly crying and I have sleepless nights.'' The statement also said the victim avoided the area which she used to enjoy visiting because of the nightmares it brought back.

Crown counsel Sandra Bacchus pointed out that Tait had a previous criminal record which included other acts of violence.

Tait had been convicted three times in the early 1990s: twice for unlawful assault and once for affray, violently resisting arrest and offensive words.

She said Tait was a danger to society.

Rapist Tait sentenced to nine years She also pointed out that the maximum sentence for the offence was 30 years.

In pleading for a lower sentence, defence lawyer Patricia Harvey-Burch said there was no clinical or psychological evidence that the victim had suffered any psychological damage.

And she argued that Tait had misread the victim's responses because he was drunk.

She said: "He would not have done it if he thought she wasn't consenting.'' She added: "He was on his way home. It wasn't as if he went out looking for this. And they were not strangers.

"He obviously has a low intellect and low education. He was a young man who found himself in an unfortunate situation.'' But before handing down the sentence, Mr. Storr told Tait: "This is not an unfortunate circumstance. It's a very serious crime and everybody must be aware you've got to serve a substantial prison sentence.

"You've shown effectively no remorse whatsoever. You used threats of violence against her and consequently she is suffering continuing psychological stress damage.

"From the evidence you treated her with total contempt and used her as a sex object for your own gratification -- you say she was crying.

"There was no kissing or foreplay. That was your attitude. Throughout your trial through your counsel you attacked her character.

"The only element of mitigation is that you had the sense to use a condom and I take that very much into account.

"I will work from the starting line of seven years in prison for this type of offence and your aggravating treatment I have outlined. If you hadn't used a condom, I would have sentenced you to ten years. I take this into account and I sentence you to nine years.''