A man who committed the "inhumane" rape of a woman at a caravan park in WA's Mid West last year - whilst on bail - has been jailed for 12 years.
A District Court Judge said the attack carried out by Daniel Joshua Ward last year ranked as one of the worst he'd seen.
When comparing other similar type cases in court on Thursday, Judge Philip McCann said: "I'm dealing with the worst case today."
The fact Ward was on bail at the time of the rape is sure to raise further questions about the strength of the state's bail laws and if the attack could have been prevented.
Ward raped the 61-year-old woman at a Meekatharra caravan park on June 30 last year.
The woman was showering in an ablution block late at night when a naked Ward confronted her and attacked her.
The ordeal lasted about 30 minutes and he was armed with a knife at the time.
He held the weapon to her throat, put his hand over her mouth and threatened to kill her as he sexually assaulted her.
The woman desperately tried to fight back, grabbing Ward's testicles and gauging his eye sockets. She screamed 'help me help me' as she was being assaulted.
She finally managed to flee and ran for help. She was covered in bruises and had lacerations on her fingers from the knife.
Ward, 33, of Laverton, was arrested the following day.
He'd been granted bail over a burglary offence just six days prior.
Ward pleaded guilty in the WA District Court on Thursday to five counts of aggravated sexual penetration without consent, one count of unlawful wounding and one charge of indecent assault.
The court heard he had an IQ below 70 and the problem solving ability of a 6-year-old.
The court was also told Ward had been jailed in WA previously on five separate occasions. Four of those stints in jail were for violent crimes.
He was first jailed at the age of 19.
On the day of the Meekatharra attack he'd been drinking wine, beer and smoked cannabis. He began using the drug at the age of 16.
Prosecutor David Robinson said the rape was premeditated and persistent.
"The treatment of the victim was violent, humiliating and degrading," Mr Robinson said.
"Words can't appropriately capture the sheer terror the victim would have felt."
Ward's lawyer Peter Collins agreed the attack was at the "top of the range" in terms of seriousness.
"What transpired can only be described as the worst nightmare for any woman," he said.
A letter compiled by Ward expressing his remorse was partly read out in court.
"I feel sorry for that lady," he said "I wish I could take back what I did."
Mr Collins said his client led a transient lifestyle and had never held down a job.
As a young child he witnessed his father beat his mother, Mr Collins said.
The victim of the sexual assault was in court on Thursday for the sentencing, supported by her family.
"What Mr Ward did to the victim was inhumane," Judge McCann said.
"She was vulnerable and defenceless.
"This was an appalling situation to be in."
Judge McCann expressed dismay at the fact Ward was released from prison in April 2016 for another offence, but without any supervision or support from authorities.
"He was a powder keg waiting to go off," Judge McCann said.
"He was left alone to binge on alcohol and sink again into dysfunction."
Ward's 12 year sentence was backdated to July 1 last year. He won't be eligible for parole until 2026.