Sunderland rapist David Blake jailed for five years

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-22513371

Version 0 of 1.

A man who raped a woman who had fallen asleep following a party has been jailed for five years.

David Blake, 44, of North Farm Avenue, Sunderland, had denied the charge but was found guilty following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Last month's trial had to be restarted after a Newcastle United fan on the jury branded the defendant a "Mackem rapist" and had to be discharged.

Mackem is a slang term for a Sunderland resident.

The jury member admitted his bias at the start of the trial, the day after Sunderland beat their North East rivals 3-0 in a Premier League match at St James' Park.

The case's restart meant the prosecution's opening had to be repeated for the new jury, so the victim had to watch her video evidence being played twice.