A MAN who tried to rape a woman just before Christmas last year has been jailed for five years and four months.

Dale Edwards also assaulted the woman, biting her on the nose, during the terrifying attack in her own home on Friday, December 23.

The 34-year-old, of Hylder Close, Woodhall Park, was visiting the woman, who he knew, when he turned on her and slapped her, sending her to the ground.

She tried to get away but he chased and caught her, dragged her to the living room where he punched her to the face, before pulling down her trousers.

He also pulled down his and tried to force himself on her, but was unable to do so and gave up after about five minutes.

However he continued the assault, dragging her by her hair, before straddling her and then trying to make her perform another sex act on him.

Marcus Davey, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that the woman later told police that that went on for a couple of minutes.

During the attack Mr Davey said she reported he had bitten her on the nose but no separate injury was caused by that.

He said the whole incident lasted for about an hour and ended when he left her alone and started crying and telling the victim he was going to kill himself.

When Edwards was questioned by the police he admitted that he had assaulted the friend but denied the sexual aspect to it.

He told detectives he had consumed about eight pints of beer and was quite drunk at the time of the incident.

Edwards pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted rape and one of actual bodily harm.

He denied making a threat to kill the woman and criminal damage and prosecutors dropped those charges.

The court heard he had a number of previous convictions for violence, including actual bodily harm, and was on bail for a common assault at the time of the incident.

Chris Oswald, defending, said his client was full of remorse for what he had done.

Judge Euan Ambrose jailed Edwards for five years and four months and told him he would have to register as a sex offender for life.

He also said he would be on the barred list preventing him from working with children or other vulnerable groups.