A BORDERS man found guilty of raping a woman in her own home has been jailed for five years.

Mark Kettrick, of Kirkbrae, Galashiels, was told his name would remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

The 34-year-old – who worked as a housing officer with City of Edinburgh Council – had denied the charge.

Kettrick lodged a special defence claiming the woman – who can’t be named for legal reasons – had consented to have sex with him.

But after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh a jury rejected his explanation and found him guilty of raping her at an address in a Borders town in March 2018.

The woman gave evidence that Kettrick had tried to kiss her before seizing her by the arm and head and having sex with her without her consent.

John McElroy, defending, told a sentencing hearing at the High Court in Livingston on Friday that Kettrick still maintained his innocence.

He said: “Having consulted with him he does accept that the verdict of the jury is guilty.

“He has been involved in a relationship for some 15 months and that relationship will persist while he is in custody.”

Mr McElroy said Kettrick, who admitted previous convictions, was assessed by social workers as being at medium risk of sexual reoffending and at low risk of future violence.

Jailing Kettrick, who appeared via video link from prison, judge Lord Arthurson told him his use of force towards the woman made the rape an “extremely serious crime”.

He added: “You have a short criminal record which discloses offences at summary level, but none for violence or sexual crimes.”

The judge said the background report highlighted that Kettrick lacked empathy for the victim and took no responsibility for his actions.

He told the accused: “In the whole circumstance, given the gravity of the offence before the court, I conclude that only a custodial sentence is appropriate today.”

He backdated Kettrick’s five-year prison sentence to February 8 this year when he was first remanded in custody.