'Dangerous' man ran over woman with car as he kidnapped her child

Stephen Smith was jailed for 21 years for rape, kidnapping, GBH and strangulation

A "dangerous" man has been jailed for 21 years for rape and child kidnapping.

Stephen Smith raped a woman after barging into her hotel room in Morecambe, in February last year.

Four months later, he drove over a woman as he abducted her child as she begged him to stop, police said.

The 39-year-old was convicted of rape, kidnap, GBH with intent, strangulation and assault at Preston Crown Court. Police said he was a "serious and very real danger to women and children".

Smith was also found guilty of aggravating vehicle taking and two counts of damaging property.

The judge added an additional five years on licence to his sentence.

Lancashire Police said Smith "strangled his victim with such force that at one stage she thought she was going to pass out" as he raped and assaulted her in the hotel room.

He then kidnapped a child in June last year but as he drove away, her mother "clung onto" Smith's Toyota Yaris "begging him to stop" as she was being "dragged down the road", police said.

A force spokesperson said that "she was unable to cling on and fell into the road" as the Yaris was being driven down Mainway in Lancaster.

They added: "Smith then stopped the car and reversed over the child's mother as she lay in the road.

"She suffered five fractured vertebrae and other injuries."

Smith, of no fixed abode but then living in Blackpool, told the child as he drove home: "That's the last time you'll see your mum."

Police stopped his car and arrested him.

'Very real danger'

Det Con Sam Ripley said: "Smith represents a serious and very real danger to women and children."

The detective said that the victims had "clearly been through horrendous ordeals" but praised their "incredible bravery".