"Dangerous rapist" jailed for attacking woman on footbridge
Police have praised the victim's courage for reporting the attack
A man who raped a woman in Fareham, in what police described as a 'shocking' attack, has been jailed for nine years.
John Horne, 39, of Broadacre Place, Fareham, assaulted the 22-year-old on a footbridge over Western Way in March.
Prosecutors praised the victim's 'courage and bravery' in coming forward to report the attack.
Horne threatened the woman with violence before assaulting and then raping her.
He ran off, leaving her in a distressed state to be found by a member of the public who called the police.
Andrea Hills, CPS Wessex Senior Crown Prosecutor, said: "John Horne initially denied any involvement in this dreadful attack, but soon changed his story when confronted by the overwhelming evidence gathered during the police investigation.
"The victim has shown incredible courage and bravery for supporting the prosecution of a stranger who attacked her in such shocking circumstances.
"I hope that today’s sentence will go some way to help her recover from the horrendous ordeal and trauma she has experienced.
"I would like to thank her for supporting the prosecution case.
"Without the victim’s evidence, we would not have been able to deliver justice today and keep a dangerous rapist off the streets."