A man who tried to rape an unconscious woman just eight days after taking part in a terrifying raid on another woman's home has been jailed for life.
Joseph Lee, 33, must serve a minimum of six years before being realeased.
Bolton Crown Court was told that Lee, of Langdale Crescent, Orrell, Wigan, tried to have sex with a woman after she had passed out on a sofa.
Lee was at her home on January 12th this year with a mutual male friend.
At around 3.10am, the friend left the address to go to a nearby shop as the victim slept in the living room.
When he returned around 5-10 minutes later, he found Lee attempting to have sex with her, despite the fact that she appeared to be sleeping.
The man immediately confronted Lee, who then stopped and left the address after a short confrontation between the two.
The friend contacted the police a short time later and Lee was arrested the following day.
On January 4th Lee and another man had taken part in an early morning break-in at a house in Marsh Green, Wigan.
In that incident a woman was sitting in her living room at about 3am.
She had left her door insecure and saw an intruder come into her home.
She went outside and saw two men standing by her car which they then tried to steal. The victim sat in the passenger seat of the vehicle and screamed for help causing neighbours to come out and the raiders fled.
Lee was given a sentence of three years and four months after pleading guilty to robbery for that offence.
Commenting on the attempted rape, Detective Constable Dave Bennett, of GMP’s Wigan district, said: “Lee subjected this woman to a vile attack. He waited until he was alone with her and then launched his sexual attack, that was thankfully interrupted and stopped by her friend, but it has left her no less traumatised.
“I want to commend the bravery and courage that she has shown in coming forward and assisting the police during the investigation, which has ultimately led to Lee’s conviction.
“Lee didn’t admit to what he had done and by pleading not guilty, he has prolonged his victims suffering. Thankfully the jury saw through his lies and he was given a life sentence.”
