AN ILLEGAL immigrant who raped a woman in a town centre attack has been warned to expect a lengthy jail term.

Joyce Rodrigues, who had overstayed his visa, admitted carrying out the sex assault in an alley off Regent Street last September.

And a judge has told the 31-year-old that he will have to consider whether he poses a serious risk of significant harm in the future when he passes sentence.

If he deems he does then he could order he serve an extended licence at the end of his sentence or imprison him indefinitely for public protection.

Rodrigues, who originally hails from the former Portuguese colony of Goa, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court.

They both relate to the same incident in the early hours of Monday, September 14, last year.

Gareth James, defending, said: "Mr Rodrigues is technically an overstayer and is likely to be liable for deportation at the culmination of his sentence."

He asked for the case to be adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be compiled by the probation service, though he accepted jail was the only option.

Judge Tim Mousley QC agreed and put the case off to Friday, February 19, and remanded Rodrigues, who needed a Konkani interpreter, in custody.

He said: "You have pleaded guilty to two serious offences which will result in a prison sentence of some considerable length.

"I am not going to sentence you today because I want to have a report from the probation service, which will consider whether you are dangerous for the purpose of sentencing you."

The defendant, who worked in KFC at Membury services on the M4, approached the 24-year-old victim as she walked home from a club and told her ‘can you help me, my friend is hurt’.

She went with him in order to assist, but when he lured her away he attacked and raped her in an alley close to the rear of Superdrug.

Rodrigues, who appeared in the dock with a beard and wearing a red white and blue striped polo shirt, was arrested in December over other matters.

When he was brought in for questioning over alleged vehicle interference his DNA was taken and found to match that of the prime suspect in the rape.

Following the incident in September the police launched a high profile operation to find the attacker.

They carried out leaflet drops in the Broad Green area of the town and made media appeals, by both the victim and police officers.

Speaking after charging him Detective Inspector Marj MacCallum, who led the investigation, said: “I would like to thank the people of Swindon who have come forward and helped us with our enquiries and investigation in relation to this case so far.”