AN Iraqi asylum seeker has been jailed for two years after he admitted attacking a 15-year-old girl.

Mivan Jasim had sex with the teenager after she had visited his flat with a friend following a night out drinking.

At Teesside Crown Court yesterday, the 22-year-old admitted the charge and told the court, through an interpreter: "I am very sorry, I am guilty, I did not know about the law in this country and I did not know she was 15."

Sarah Mallett, prosecuting, said the girl and her friend, also 15, had been drinking in Stockton town centre in January last year.

The pair went to a pizza shop where they met the defendant's friend, who was staying at his flat, in Hartingdon Road, Stockton.

Miss Mallett said: "The girls made up names to the man and initially the victim said she was 15 and her friend said she was 17. Her friend then said they were twins and then the victim said she was 17."

The girls went back to the flat with the man and met the defendant, who had been out drinking in Middlesbrough, and was smoking cannabis with another man.

Miss Mallett said the victim was given a drink and started feeling sick and dizzy after a few mouthfuls and blacked out.

When she woke up, she found her underwear had been interfered with. A doctor confirmed intercourse had taken place and police matched DNA to the defendant.

An offence of rape was ordered to lie on the file after the defendant pleaded guilty to buggery.

Christine Egerton, for the defendant, said Jasim had lived in the country for three years and had leave to remain for another three years with the possibility of indefinite leave to stay. Jasim was placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.