AN ILLEGAL immigrant has been locked up for raping a woman in a Southend flat.

Albanian-born teenager Ervis Bulica will spend three years in a young offenders’ institution and then be deported to Albania.

Basildon Crown Court was told his 28-year-old victim had consensual sex with Bulica’s flatmate in the early hours of May 8.

Later, while she was alone in the bedroom of the flat, in Northumberland Avenue, Southend, Bulica attacked her.

He admitted rape at Basildon Crown Court.

Bulica gave different dates of birth to the police and the court, claiming to the judge he was just 17.

However, the court did not accept this and sent him to a young offenders’ institution – for criminals aged 18 to 20. He will also remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.

After sentence was passed, Det Con Tanya Bailey, of Leigh CID, said: “We are pleased with the conviction, which follows a complex investigation into this serious offence.

“This is a case which has had, and will continue to have, a lasting effect on the victim, who has been supported by police throughout the justice process.

“My thanks go out to all the witnesses who have assisted us in bringing this man to justice.”

Suzanne Stringer, from the Crown Prosecution Service, also welcomed the outcome.

She said: “We are pleased this case has reached a successful conclusion for the sake of the victim, who we hope can now move on with her life.

“We are grateful to her for coming forward to the authorities and assisting in the prosecution.

“This man took the opportunity to attack her while she was alone and vulnerable and he would not take no for an answer. The only positive point is he pleaded guilty, which means the victim didn’t have to relive the ordeal she suffered at his hands in a courtroom.”