AN ex-soldier from Radcliffe who raped a woman while her boyfriend lay bound and gagged, has failed to persuade top judges to cut his minimum jail term.

Allan Baxter (24) was jailed for life at Bolton Crown Court in June last year after admitting six charges - including kidnapping, false imprisonment, having an offensive weapon and two counts of rape.

He was told he would have to serve at least six years - the equivalent of a conventional 12-year sentence - behind bars before he could even seek parole.

Judge John Rogers, who upheld that minimum term at London's Criminal Appeal Court, said the Crown Court judge was justified in finding that Baxter posed a "real danger to women".

Baxter, of Vale Avenue, struck in March last year, gaining entry to a house in Bolton where his rape victim awoke in terror to see Baxter at the foot of her bed, holding a knife.

Her boyfriend was bound and gagged before being bundled into the garden shed while Baxter twice violated the woman. At one point, he almost choked the woman into unconsciousness before breaking her jaw with a single blow.

Later, the woman managed to "calm him down" after which Baxter drove her to Barton Bridge where he got out of the car for a stroll. The woman then seized her chance to make her escape.

Police arrested Baxter soon afterwards, finding him still on Barton Bridge.

Judge Rogers, sitting with Lord Justice Dyson and Mr Justice Forbes, said Baxter had since demonstrated clear "signs of contrition", but concluded that his rape offences were "so serious" that his minimum term could not be faulted.

Even once Baxter has served the six-year minimum, his life sentence means he will only be freed if he can persuade the Parole Board he poses no further public danger.