AN artist who raped a married Worcester woman in his parked car is facing a prison sentence of over five years.

Following a unique trial, Udi Yamini was convicted earlier today of a violent sex attack which was overheard on a mobile phone.

The victim suffered a total memory loss due to heavy drinking exacerbated by prescribed drugs for bipolar disorder, a condition causing severe mood swings.

But she rang a friend while inside Yamini's Volvo, appearing scared and lost. The rape was heard because the mobile phone line stayed open for 17 minutes.

Yamini, 29, formerly of Hawkwood Crescent, St John's, Worcester, was unanimously found guilty of rape after a jury of six men and six women retired for only three hours.

Remanding the father-of-one in custody for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, Judge Patrick Thomas QC said two aggravating features of the crime meant the eventual sentence "was likely to be over five years".

Yamini had taken advantage of a victim whom he knew was "close to helpless" by being "discernibly drunk".

And he said the defendant had used alcohol to facilitate the offence by buying her wine at SJ's club in The Trinity, Worcester.

The judge now has to consider if Yamini is classified as a dangerous offender, requiring an extended sentence for public protection.

Yamini would be deported after his release from prison, he added.

Sentence was fixed at Birmingham Crown Court for the week beginning Monday, January 5.

Shaven-headed Yamini had only been in England a few weeks when he targeted the woman he met for the first time in the club on Saturday, May 3.

The divorced Israeli, who has a five-year-old son, had come over to try to sell his paintings and was planning an exhibition in the city.

Worcester Crown Court heard that the 30-year-old victim, who worked in admin, was at a family meal to celebrate her birthday before having a row in a pub with her husband.

She stormed off to the club, leaving in the early hours with Yamini who offered to give her a lift.

But he parked in a dark back-street area behind offices and raped her, dumping her afterwards on a pavement without her trousers on.

Police found her in Wood Terrace wandering about in a confused state.

She was bruised and scratched and had five lacerations to her private parts.

Yamini was arrested three days later in Swindon. He denied rape, claiming they had sex by consent.

Prosecutor Jonas Hankin described the victim as "borderline senseless" and argued that she was unable to consent.

Yamini, who showed no reaction to the verdict, had committed a string of crimes in Israel including assault, threatening behaviour, burglary, fraud, perverting the course of justice and possession of drugs with intent to supply.

After the verdict, he pleaded guilty to driving while banned and without insurance.

Defence counsel Simon Burns conceded that Yamini had taken advantage of the victim "in a one-off opportunistic incident".

It was not stranger rape, he said, because the pair had spent part of the evening in happy mood on a club couch.

Mr Burns said Yamini had no track record for sex crimes and had not used a weapon.

District Crown Prosecutor Suzanne Llewellyn said she was delighted with the guilty verdict.

"This was a case involving a sexual attack on a vulnerable woman who suffered significant injuries," she said.

"The close working relationship between the police and the prosecution in this most difficult trial resulted in a strong case being built.

"I hope this conviction will raise the public's confidence in the criminal justice system. South Worcestershire is experiencing an increase in conviction success rates in cases involving violence against women."