A RAPIST who tried to slit his wrists after his victim called police has been jailed for eight years.

Officers found Michael Cross, 37, with the injuries when they arrested him in Basildon. He had just raped a woman twice.

Cross admitted what he had done and was taken into custody. He also voluntarily admitted raping the same woman on a separate occasion in late January.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting at Southend Crown Court, said Cross was a long-standing alcoholic who had also started to use cocaine in recent years.

He said Cross had used text messages to pester the woman for sex, and became frustrated and angry when she spurned his advances.

Mr Jackson said Cross visited her at home on the morning on May 17, as she returned from her cleaning job, and dragged her into a bedroom before violently raping her.

He said the terrified woman called her partner and police, while her attacker was downstairs helping himself to vodka. Stephen Rose, in mitigation, said Cross was deeply remorseful and had worked hard to beat his addiction.

Mr Rose said in addition to the “serious attempt at taking his own life” when arrested, Cross had also self-harmed several times since.

He said on his release from prison, Cross was unlikely to ever come before the courts again.

Judge John Lodge said: “It is your letter which best describes what you have done. You say it was vile and degrading – acts which nobody should have to go through. And you are quite right.”

Cross, of Byfleets, Basildon, last month admitted three counts of rape. He will have to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.