A TRANSVESTITE taxi driver has been jailed for five years after being convicted of raping a drunken woman in the back of his car.

Qasim Anwar, 30, carried out the attack dressed in make-up, a wig, women's clothing and high heels - and filmed it on his mobile phone.

Manchester Crown Court heard the victim was so drunk she was virtually 'comatose'.

Father-of-two Anwar, known in the gay village as Layla, had denied rape. He claimed the woman was an eager participant who had led him on.

He took the woman from a club in the city centre last November, parked near a bedsit he used in Whalley Range, then attacked her.

He then changed back into his normal clothing and drove her home.

He later sent her a text message saying 'Hi. How are you feeling sweet - Layla'.

Anwar, from Parkville Close, Prestwich, said he had consensual sex with the woman twice in the car, sleeping after each session. He admitted videoing on his mobile phone.

He told the court the woman had wanted him to photograph a tattoo she was very proud of. Giving evidence via a TV link, she said she could not recall much of what happened, but would not have agreed to sex and knew nothing of the video.

David James, defending, said: "This man is going to have a very difficult time while he's going to be incarcerated."

He said Anwar did not meet the criteria for a dangerous offender and hoped the judge would be able to let him go back to his family and lead the life that he had led for 30 years.

He said he had been addressing the issues of his 'alternative lifestyle' that led him to court.

Anwar will be placed on licence after his release and will sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Judge Andrew Blake said: "I have come to the conclusion that [this attack] does not have any particularly aggravating features, such as the use of violence but it is an offence which must be visited by a term of imprisonment."

He said the victim had been put through a 'very unpleasant experience'.