A rapist who attacked a young mum in a copycat attack from a video nasty was jailed for ten years today.

Stephen Riley, 22, broke into the 23-year-old's home at night and raped her as her two young children slept in the next room. Newcastle Crown Court heard how Riley was copying the plot of a film Complex of Fear, which centres around an identical attack on a young mum in America.

The court heard how he got into the house in Cowgate, Newcastle, via a broken window - which the victim had asked the council to fix two weeks earlier, but got no response.

The distraught mum was woken by the stranger holding a knife to her throat and suffered an hour long ordeal.

Prosecutor Robin Patton told the court: "Her heart told her to shout out but she had to concern herself with the safety of her children because this man was armed with a knife in her bedroom."

The victim sought to preserve all the evidence by not touching a thing in the room and Riley was arrested after a DNA match. Mr Patton said that a DVD Complex of Fear was found during a search of his home. It tells how a man stalks and rapes a woman whilst her child is asleep in the next room.

Riley pleaded guilty to rape and burglary witth intent to rape.

Defence barrister Jamie Adams said: "He is ashamed and deeply regrets what he did."

Judge Tim Hewitt sentenced Riley, to 10 years behind bars with another five years extension on his licence period once released. He will be registered as a sex offender for life.

Speaking afterwards, the victim said: "He has turned my life upside down."