Kidnap rapist put woman through 'pure hell'
Cumbria policeA rapist who held a woman captive for a weekend and put her through "pure hell" has been jailed for 14 years.
Noah Hetherington's victim said she thought she would be killed during the ordeal, in which she was raped multiple times, beaten with an axe handle and had what appeared to be a real shotgun held to her head, Carlisle Crown Court heard.
Judge Nicholas Barker said Hetherington, 22, had "entrenched criminal tendencies".
Hetherington, previously of Maryport Road, Dearham, Cumbria, was found guilty of rape, false imprisonment, assault and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Giving evidence during the trial, his victim said she believed he would kill somebody.
"He needs to be stopped," she said, adding: "And that's the only reason I'm trying to be strong and get through it - for other people, for other girls."
The court heard Hetherington initially held what appeared to be a real shotgun to the woman's head and threatened to shoot her.
He raped her several times, struck her with an axe handle and removed her phone SIM card to prevent ready access, the court heard.
He was said to have also smoked cannabis, taken cocaine and drank alcohol during the period of "complete control" over the woman.
'Trauma every day'
In an impact statement, his victim said the ordeal had been "pure hell".
She said: "I was almost dead and killed, dead and buried.
"I've never been the same person since."
She said she had since been in and out of hospital, felt stressed, lost hair and been unable to eat and sleep.
"I've been traumatised," the woman said, adding: "And I'll live with the trauma every single day."
Hetherington had previous convictions for offensive weapon possession after taking a sharpened stick into school, along with battery, damage, drug and driving crimes.
The father-of-two must sign the sex offender register indefinitely and comply with the conditions of a sexual harm prevention order.
