A man has been jailed for raping a vulnerable woman.

Richard Harris, 39, of Churchill Terrace in Chingford, was sentenced yesterday at Snaresbrook Crown Court, to 11 years in prison for raping the woman at his home while his wife and son were out.

The incident took place on February 10 2012, when Harris lured the 34-year-old to his home, dragged her into his bedroom and sexually assaulted her.

Sentencing Harris, Judge Neil Sanders said: “Your victim was 34 but a psychologist said she did not have the capacity to consent.

“You accepted you knew she had problems and you allowed her to stay at your home so she could leave hospital.

“I am satisfied that you saw this as an opportunity to have sexual intercourse.You asked your friend with you on the day of the rape to leave you and the victim alone.

“You took her into the bedroom and asked her to perform oral sex on you and when she refused you put her on the bed and raped her.

“She was clearly distressed and you insisted she should have a bath and wash her private parts thoroughly in an attempt to hide your act. You told her not to tell anybody about it.

“You took advantage of a vulnerable woman, you intended to have sex with her, you engineered an opportunity to commit the offence, you took steps afterwards to remove evidence, you told her not to tell anyone, and the impact has been significant.”

The woman, believed to have the mental age of a 13-year-old, later told police how Harris had removed a pair of red silk boxer shorts to cover up the act.

When police searched the house, detectives found a pair of red silk boxers in a pile in the kitchen.

Harris was arrested on February 13 2012 after the victim told her sister what had happened, and the victim's father took her to an east London police station.

Prosecuting, Paul Raudnitz, said: “Mr Harris took advantage of this woman and raped her.

“She refused to do that and Mr Harris just repeated the request several more times but when she continued to refuse he made her lie down on the bed.

“He lifted up her skirt, pulled down her knickers, got on top of her and commenced to have sex with her.

“During the sex, she said she didn't want to but he would not listen and he told her that he was in his command and she had to do what he said.”