Rapist who attacked woman in flat jailed

Image source, Lancashire Constabulary

Image caption, Nathan Byrne raped the vulnerable woman several times

A hammer-wielding rapist who burst into a vulnerable woman's home and subjected her to a "horrific" attack has been jailed for 16 years.

Nathan Byrne was attempting to collect a drug debt from the victim鈥檚 friend when he raped her several times in a flat in Preston.

鈥淭his was a prolonged and sustained attack against an extremely vulnerable woman," Det Con Rachel Scott, of Lancashire Police, said.

Byrne, 24, was found guilty of six offences of rape and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity.

Lancashire Constabulary said Byrne, from Preston, had turned up at the woman鈥檚 home looking for her friend and demanded he be let in.

He then became aggressive and picked up a hammer.

Officers said the woman offered to take Byrne to her friend鈥檚 flat, with Byrne promising her that he would let her go if she did so.

'Violent and threatening'

They went to her friend鈥檚 flat and it was there that Byrne raped her several times, police said.

Byrne, of Glebe Close, denied the offences but was found guilty at Preston Crown Court in March and sentenced on Friday.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

"Nathan Byrne subjected her to a horrific ordeal and justice has now caught up with him," Det Con Scott said.

鈥淗is actions were nothing short of disgusting.

鈥淭he victim had to relive her ordeal when she gave evidence in court at the trial, and she showed great bravery in doing that."

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