A TEENAGER has been locked up after raping a 91-year-old widow in her home.

Kriss Strachan was held after his mother ordered he gave himself up to police. The 17-year-old later confessed to officers: "I cannot believe I done it. I am f****** scum."

Strachan had earlier battered and assaulted the terrified elderly woman after forcing his way into her home in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, in July.

A judge heard how the victim, who had lived in the house for 40 years, had been "active and independent" before her ordeal - but now regularly talks about wishing she was dead.

The victim was left so afraid after what happened she moved out to stay with her daughter.

Strachan yesterday appeared at the High Court in Glasgow and admitted rape. The mechanic was remanded in custody and will learn his fate next month.

His ashamed mother has had no contact with her son since the attack and has thrown out all his belongings from her home.

The court heard Strachan had spent the hours before the attack drinking with friends at a party.

About 7am on July 27, the teenager, who lived nearby but was not known to the woman, suddenly turned up at the widow's door.

She was in bed, but was awoken by loud knocking. She thought it was a relative and opened the door, but was met by Strachan, who stormed in. He pushed her and then told her he "wanted sex".

Prosecutor Jane Farquharson told the court the woman bravely struggled with her attacker and managed to scratch his face.

The victim started banging walls, hoping to get help, but Strachan told her to shut up or he would kill her.

He then grabbed the woman's neck before raining blows on her. He then raped her before walking out of the house.

The distressed victim managed to stagger to a neighbour's house, where she said: "I have been attacked and he had sex with me."

Police were called, but the woman was too traumatised at one point to relive what had happened.

Miss Farquharson told the court: "She said she felt dirty and was becoming more and more withdrawn. She whispered to an officer, 'I just want to die'."

The victim also became "extremely anxious" with any men in the room and asked for a female officer to stay beside her.

She suffered extensive bruising as a result of the attack.

Later that morning, Strachan's mother learned of an incident at the elderly woman's house. She heard the culprit had worn a green top and later discovered one lying over her couch.

The mother confronted her son, who was in bed, and Strachan immediately sobbed: "I am sorry. I want to hand myself in."

She demanded Strachan go with her to a police station, but officers happened to be passing their home and she told the teenager to admit what had gone on.

Strachan confessed to them: "It is me you are looking for. I want to kill myself. I cannot believe I done that to the old woman. I am a f****** scumbag."