A RAPIST who imprisoned his victim for nine hours was locked up indefinitely yesterday.

Kenneth Yorke was told by a judge that he will be released only when Parole Board officials are convinced he is no longer a danger to the public.

The 49-year-old dragged his victim off the street and held her captive in his father's home while he raped her and made her carry out a sex act on him.

The woman was punched to the ground and partially stripped before Yorke, of West Auckland, County Durham, took her to the house, put his arm across her throat and threatened her.

Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday that the victim feared she would be killed while she was held captive overnight in October 2006.

Yorke had been given a suspended prison sentence only three-and-a-half months earlier for an offence of causing grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that while he was on bail for the bodily harm offence, he threatened a police officer in the case and vowed to burn down her home.

He told a probation officer: "I'm going to get her back even if I have to torch her house."

Dan Cordey, prosecuting, said the detective and her husband were so concerned that she installed extra security measures at home.

Yorke, who has 83 previous violence and dishonesty offences, also appeared yesterday to be sentenced for attempted theft.

Mr Cordey told the court that Yorke was caught in a compound with valuable drain covers, which he planned to sell for scrap.

Yorke was found guilty of rape, false imprisonment, assault and causing a person to engage in a sexual act.

He pleaded guilty to the harassment of the officer, attempted theft and breaching the nine-month suspended sentence.

Judge Michael Taylor told Yorke he will have to serve at least six-and-a-half years in jail.

The judge said: "You will be released as and when the Parole Board see fit, but it may be many years after the tariff period expires.

"I am satisfied you pose a real and really dangerous threat to the public and women at large, and I consider there is significant risk of harm when you are in the public domain.

"You should be detained for a very lengthy period of time."

Yorke, of The Nursery, will also be on the sex offenders' register for life.

His barrister, Richard Bennett, told the court that Yorke had finally accepted responsibility for the rape, had shown remorse and vowed to change his ways.

But Judge Taylor branded Yorke a liar and described him as cold, calculating and manipulative for trying to convince probation officials he had reformed.