A South African national who was found guilty of raping his friend’s wife faces a bleak Christmas after he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Accused Selby Machabe from Ludlow was found guilty of rape and housebreaking to which he pleaded not guilty.

The 37-year-old appeared for sentencing in the Mhala Regional Court on Friday.

The court heard that in February 2016 Machabe, while carrying a knife, forced himself on his friend’s wife (35) and threatened to kill her.

Constable Charles Nxumalo said police then received information on the whereabouts of the accused. He tried to resist arrest and to overpower Detective Constable Norah Dumisa.

Both the accused and Dumisa were injured during the scuffle, Daily Sun reports.

“We took Machabe to hospital after he tried to take my colleague’s gun, and he was charged with rape,” said Nxumalo.

But Machabe told the court his friend had a childhood grudge against him owing to a fight they had as kids.

His lawyer, Lucas Hlungwane, pleaded for his client to be given a lenient sentence.

Magistrate Reginald Cloete would hear nothing of it.

He said Machabe had not shown remorse and sentenced him to 15 years.