Rapist who attacked woman in flat jailed

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’s friend when he raped her several times in a flat in Preston.

“This 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’s 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’s flat, with Byrne promising her that he would let her go if she did so.

'Violent and threatening'

They went to her friend’s 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.

“His actions were nothing short of disgusting.

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