A MAN convicted of raping an Ipswich woman is on the run today after disappearing from the court where his trial was being held.Another man accused of raping the woman's friend also disappeared after being bailed by magistrates.

A MAN convicted of raping an Ipswich woman is on the run today after disappearing from the court where his trial was being held.

Another man accused of raping the woman's friend also disappeared after being bailed by magistrates.

Joseph Halim of Ranger Walk, Colchester was convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday of one charge of rape and one of attempted rape.

The Nigerian student was jailed for eight years for the crime, but was not in court because he disappeared during the trial.

As well as the eight-year sentence Halim must stay on the sex offenders' register for life and trial judge Rodger Hayward Smith QC recommended his deportation.

Jason Afadana, 23 of Avon Way, Colchester was accused of attempted rape but has not been seen since he was bailed by magistrates.

Another man, Treach Joseph had denied and was cleared on charges of attempted rape and indecent assault following the week-long trial.

The three men had been accused of sexually assaulting three Ipswich women in the same house following a night out.

In September the women had planned a night out to Colchester Hippodrome and one of them had arranged a lift back with Joseph who she thought would take them back to Ipswich at the end of the night.

Instead he drove them back to his house where the alleged offences took place.

One victim said that Halim pushed her on to the bed while Afadana twisted her arm behind her back before both men raped her.

A third woman admitted to having consensual sex with one of the men in the house but then said that Afadana, who she had only seen once, came into the room.

She said he pulled down his trousers and pushed her on to the mattress and got hold of her neck, hurting her.

She said he also pushed a desk in front of the bedroom door and kept trying to lift her skirt up, but after half an hour he gave up and she escaped.