TV dance instructor jailed for rape

Relevant offers

TV

2 Broke Girls: the worst new show of 2012 Knives out as Masterchef begins Weatherman's hilarious slip-up Person of Interest's unpredictable joys The cult of Kevin Hell On Wheels: lights on, nobody home Hulk Hogan heading to New Zealand Local content steady on the box Degrassi star died five years ago The Simpsons turn 500

A salsa dance instructor who worked on the TV show So You Think You Can Dance has been sentenced in Los Angeles to 10 years in prison for raping one woman and assaulting another.

Prosecutors say Alex Da Silva gave dance lessons at salsa clubs where he met aspiring dancers he assaulted.

He was convicted of raping a 22-year-old woman in 2002 and attacking another woman with intent to commit rape in 2009.

The jury deadlocked on four other counts, including two more alleged rapes. Those counts were dismissed.

A defence attorney says the women who accused Da Silva were not telling the truth.

Da Silva will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

- AP