A RAPIST plied a young woman with alcohol and throttled her moments before her partner found her.

Peraslingam Nanthvavaraman launched the “shocking” sex attack on the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, at the Wimpy restaurant in Portslade earlier this year.

The 40-year-old lied about having a wife and child in order to gain her trust.

He showed a “sense of entitlement” about women and a desire for “thrill seeking”, a court heard.

Nanthvavaraman had switched off CCTV, locked a door and turned off lights so he would not be caught.

He answered the woman’s phone when her family members, concerned about her whereabouts, rang it.

She was left unconscious with bruises around her throat and arms.

Traces of Nanthvavaraman’s DNA were found on her after she was taken to hospital.

Her partner had arrived at the restaurant shortly after the attack and saw her through a window lying on the floor in a state of undress.

He was the one who raised the alarm and called for an ambulance. Nanthvavaraman had no such concern.

At Hove Crown Court, Judge Shani Barnes was told that the Sri Lankan’s asylum application had been rejected and he was in the country illegally.

The rapist was jailed for eight years and will serve at least two thirds of his sentence before he can be considered for parole.

He was considered “dangerous”, with a risk of him committing similar offences so he will remain on licence for an extra three years after his term finishes and is likely to be deported.

His sentence was cut for pleading guilty to rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Leo Seelig, prosecuting, described the harrowing details of the incident, which happened inside the Wimpy in Station Road where Nanthvavaraman worked as a manager.

Mr Seelig said Nanthvavaraman had invited the victim for a “little party” but then arranged to be left alone with her.

She had expected one drink before returning home, but was begged to stay and have a second drink.

Previously The Argus revealed the police and council’s concerns over a catalogue of problems at the restaurant, including claims that people went there for small parties after hours to drink alcohol.

A council investigation found there were three illegal immigrants working there, while the designated premises supervisor Ketheesan Tharmasseelan did not even realise he was responsible for ensuring the conditions of the alcohol licence were complied with.

Sarah Thorne, defending, told Hove Crown Court it would have been traumatic for the victim. She said her client had shown remorse and felt “ashamed” of the sex attack.

Nanthvavaraman, of Sheppard Way, Portslade, had “escaped persecution” as a Tamil in Sri Lanka, Ms Thorne said.

Judge Barnes said: “This was a young woman who was unconscious, frothing at the mouth. You throttled her and prevented her family phoning her to get medical attention.

“The fact you didn’t seek medical attention for her yourself is shocking.

“The photographs of her injuries were horrible.

“The statement of the victim shows the horror of that night.”