A RAPIST who subjected a young woman to a sustained campaign of violence and abuse has been jailed for ten years.

Tyler Brown raped his teenage victim, having first locked her inside his house and removed her phone to prevent her contacting her family and friends.

Over a prolonged period, he stabbed and slashed her hands and feet, using knives and a smashed glass food liquidiser into her face.

His victim was forced to tend to her own wounds using a pair of tights and hair bobbles as makeshift bandages.

In February this year, Brown’s horrific abuse came to light when the distressed victim was found in the street outside his home in Poplar Street, in Chester-le-Street, dressed only in her underwear.

Brown, 19 at the time, was arrested and charged with a string of offences over his abuse, which he denied.

He maintained those denials at his trial at Durham Crown Court last month, but after a five-day hearing was found guilty of a number of offences, including rape, two counts of wounding, plus assault causing actual bodily harm.

Brown, now 20, appeared back at the court via video link from nearby Durham Prison and received the ten-year sentence

He was also made subject of notification as a sex offender and a restraining order, prohibiting contact or approaches to his victim, both for life.

Investigating officer Steve Gothard said: “Tyler Brown is a violent man who subjected his victim to horrifying abuse over a prolonged period of time, abuse which caused immense physical, emotional and mental harm to a young woman.

“He will now have ten years’ in prison to reflect on the damage he has done.

“I would like to praise the victim in this case for her courage in co-operating with our investigation, which has led to this conviction and sentence.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to urge anyone who is suffering at the hands of an abuser to have the confidence to come forward and speak to us.

“They can be assured that we will do all we can to see that justice is done.”

Anyone subject to abuse should call police on 101, or if in immediate danger, they should always call 999.

For those unwilling to speak directly to police, they should contact the Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre, on (03333) 448283.

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