A man in Devon has been found guilty of repeatedly raping a heavily pregnant woman in a six day ordeal.

Colin Atkinson, 48, of Pendennis Road, Torquay, was convicted of four counts of rape and one of false imprisonment at Exeter Crown Court.

The pub bouncer was also convicted of perverting the course of justice and intimidating a witness.

The court heard Atkinson, who had denied all charges, kept the woman imprisoned at his home.

Sentencing has been adjourned.

The jury could not reach a verdict on a charge of kidnap and it was ordered to lie on file.

During the trial the court was told that Atkinson had raped the victim, who was seven-and-a-half-months pregnant, about 14 times in July 2010.

She was also made to cook, tidy and garden for him.

The victim eventually managed to raise the alarm when she got hold of her mobile phone and contacted a friend, who called police.

Prosecutor Jonathan Barnes said: “While she was there in his flat she said that Atkinson, to use her own expression, treated her like a sex machine.

“She said he repeatedly made her have sex with him in Torquay without any regard at all to whether she wanted to or not.

“Atkinson kept her as a virtual prisoner – or a literal prisoner.”