Parolee jailed for trying to rape woman

A man who admitted being high on drugs when he broke into a woman's Adelaide home and tried to rape her has been jailed for at least five years.

The 55-year-old woman awoke to find Mark Allan Chantrill on top of her before the 28-year-old attempted to rape her, Judge Michael Boylan said on Tuesday.

"She was, of course, terrified when you were in her flat and she remains terrified," he said when sentencing Chantrill in the South Australian District Court.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated serious criminal trespass, assault with intent to rape and theft in June last year when he was on parole on another trespass charge from 2011.

After trying to rape her, Chantrill spent about an hour in the flat wiping down surfaces before fleeing with the woman's mobile phone, jewellery, clothing and $450 in cash.

The judge said Chantrill had a very dysfunctional upbringing, began using cannabis at 10 and alcohol, heroin and amphetamines at 13.

"Drug use has been the bane of your life."

Chantrill had been a "man with promise", said the judge, who commented it was surprising given his drug use and background that he finished year 12, undertook a TAFE course and had a good work record.

Chantrill had little memory of his offending, having taken heroin and fantasy on the night, but accepted the victim's account and was truly sorry and ashamed.

"She has had to move house, is too scared to go to sleep and too scared to go outside," the judge said.