A POWYS MAN who raped a 16-year-old girl as she walked home from a night out on New Year’s Day has been jailed for seven years.

Richard Waines, 29, from Trefonnen, near Llandrindod Wells, was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court yesterday after admitting two charges of rape.

The attack happened early on New Year’s Day as the teenager walked home from The Venue nightclub in Llandrindod Wells.

The court heard how the girl risked her life and tried to escape across a fast-flowing river, but Waines caught her.

Sentencing Waines to seven years in prison with an additional three years on licence, Judge Eleri Rees described the attack as “horrendous”.

Waines was placed on the sex offender register for life.

Mr David Pugh, prosecuting, said the victim had arranged to go out in the town on New Year’s Eve with her best friend and stay at her friend’s house.

He said the victim’s friend left The Venue early but the 16-year-old remained there with others until 3.30am.

The court heard the victim walked home with a friend but he turned off to go home and she was left walking alone a short distance from her friend’s house.

Mr Pugh said Waines grabbed her, took her mobile off her, and threatened to cut her throat.

The court was told he then dragged her down the street to the river bank near Crabtree Green, pushed her to the ground and raped her.

Mr Pugh said the victim begged him to stop but he refused, punched her in the face and threatened to drown her in the river unless she remained quiet.

He added that once it was over, the victim saw a chance to escape by jumping into the river but when she got to the other side he grabbed her by the hair, dragged her into a field and raped her again. He made her promise not to tell anyone and then left.

The victim re-crossed the river to get to her friend’s house where her friend’s family found her soaking wet and in a distressed state.

Mr Geraint Jones, for father-of-one Waines, said his client accepted responsibility and had expressed remorse and guilt for his actions.

Mr Jones said it had been a “random opportunist attack”.

By Karen Evans