AN IPSWICH man, described as being like a “hunting dog”, has been found guilty of raping a woman in a town centre car park.Paul Tavares, 27, of Nacton Road, was found guilty of rape by a jury at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court yesterday.

AN IPSWICH man, described as being like a “hunting dog”, has been found guilty of raping a woman in a town centre car park.

Paul Tavares, 27, of Nacton Road, was found guilty of rape by a jury at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court yesterday.

Tavares met the 31-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, outside the Zest nightclub in the early hours of February 11.

The woman was said to have been crying and already in some distress when Tavares led her to a nearby car park and forced her to perform oral sex on him.

He was then said to have forced the woman to the ground and removed her trousers and underwear before unsuccessfully trying to rape her.

However, in relation to an accusation of attempted rape the jury returned a not guilty verdict.

His friend Carlos Almeida, 25, of Macauley Road, Ipswich, is also accused of raping the woman, but the jury has yet to return a verdict against him and is due to resume its deliberations today.

Tavares said the woman had willingly performed oral sex on him and Almeida, and at one point had left the car park so Almeida could have a “private moment” with her.

Giving evidence Tavares had claimed the woman was “happy” to have sex with them both and had told the court: “I could see she was gagging to have us both at the same time.

“She didn't complain at all, she didn't cry, shout or talk, she was just busy doing what she was doing.”

Shortly after the incident, the woman had been examined by a doctor, who found bruises on her lower legs, knees, arms, thighs, back, buttocks and hands.

John Farmer, prosecuting, said the woman had tried to fight her way out of the situation, but both men had turned on her “like hunting dogs” and cornered her.

Almeira claims he had nothing to do with the rape and had not even been inside the car park at the time it happened.

The court was told he claimed he waited outside while his friend and the woman went into the car park.

A verdict on the charge against Almeira is expected later today, and Judge John Devaux is due to pass sentence on Tavares, who was remanded in custody.