‘Disgusting’ Fulwood man who raped woman while brandishing hammer is jailed

A man who raped a woman multiple times while threatening her with a hammer has been jailed.

Nathan Byrne was found guilty of six offences of rape and one offence of causing a person to engage in sexual activity.

The 24-year-old of Glebe Close, Fulwood, had been attempted to collect a drug debt from the victim’s friend when he subjected a woman to a horrific ordeal in a flat in August 2021.

Byrne had turned up looking for her friend and demanded to be let into the property.

He became aggressive and picked up a hammer from inside the property.

The woman offered to take Byrne to a friend’s flat and he had promised he would let her go if she did.

When inside her friend’s flat she was raped by Byrne several times – with him in possession of the hammer throughout the attack.

His victim described his behaviour as ‘very changeable, with him at times becoming extremely violent and threatening’.

Byrne, who denied the charges, was found guilty in March at Preston Crown Court and was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Judge Phillip Parry on Friday 12 April.

Byrne will have to serve a minimum of two thirds of that term, while he was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

What police said in response to the sentencing

Detective Constable Rachel Scott of Lancashire Police, said: “This was a prolonged and sustained attack against an extremely vulnerable woman during which Nathan Byrne subjected her to a horrific ordeal and justice has now caught up with him.

“His actions were nothing short of disgusting.

“The victim had to relive her ordeal when she gave evidence in court at the trial, and she showed great bravery in doing that.

“We encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual crime to come forward, we will investigate thoroughly and seek to bring to justice those who commit such offences.”

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