A MAN who raped a woman and repeatedly punched her as she held a young child has been jailed.

Scott Findlay subjected his victim to a “prolonged and harrowing” attack.

At York Crown Court, Judge Simon Hickey sent the 27-year-old, from Ferryhill, in County Durham, to prison for 15 years for offences including rape, actual bodily harm and threats to kill.

The court heard Findlay was armed with a kitchen knife during the attack.

Speaking after sentencing, Detective Constable Katrina Meisuria, of Durham Constabulary’s Safeguarding Unit, said: “Scott Findlay subjected his victim to a prolonged, harrowing and violent attack.

“It took great bravery by the victim to provide evidence at court reliving those events again."

In a statement released through the police, the victim said: “This has been an extremely difficult time for me and my family."

She added: “My family and I are pleased with the outcome and relieved it is finally over and we can move forward to rebuilding our life."

After a four-day trial at Durham Crown Court in May, a jury found Findlay guilty of three counts of rape and one count of actual bodily harm, as well as one count of making threats to kill.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and criminal damage.