A 30-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for more than six years for raping and repeatedly beating a woman.

Gareth Owen, of Manor Drive, Cottingley, Bingley, was convicted by a jury at Bradford Crown Court after a trial lasting several days.

His victim told how Owen used repeated violence on her before raping her on October 3 last year.

In the days leading up to the rape, he threw her on the floor, bruising her hip, and then banged her head and bent the fingers of both her hands when he assaulted her in a car in Otley Road, Bradford. The court heard that a member of the public witnessed part of the second incident and told the police.

Owen raped the woman in her home in the Bradford area after throwing her round the bedroom and squeezing her neck until she lost consciousness.

“She thinks she passed out as she remembers him blowing into her mouth and checking her pulse,” prosecutor David McGonigal told the court.

Owen then put all his weight on top of her so she was unable to breathe, scratched her head and pulled her hair and ears. Mr McGonigal said: “He squeezed her throat again, then put his hand over her mouth and nose and pushed down to stop her breathing. She tried to pretend she had passed out.”

After raping her, Owen taunted her that she was a “psycho” and would get locked up. She was very upset and crying that she couldn’t go on.

Owen then said: “You’re right. It’s going to end in either a death or prison.”

Two days later, he again attacked the woman, throwing her over a hedge and banging her head on a door. He then dragged her down the street and pushed her up against a post.

Owen was arrested on suspicion of assault by beating and told the police he was restraining the woman during the incidents of violence to stop her hurting herself.

The woman then reported the rape after a friend advised her to tell police.

Owen claimed that the sex was consensual. He was found guilty of a single count of rape and three charges of assault by beating. He was cleared of two further allegations of assault by beating.

Judge Peter Hunt jailed Owen for a total of six years and three months.

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