Rapist jailed after decade on the run

James Rhule, now 56, fled the country after raping a former prostitute at his Bradford flat, but he was arrested in the Milton Keynes area last October.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that Rhule, formerly of Parsonage Road, Laisterdyke, had been remanded in custody following the rape allegation, but in September 1999 a judge ordered his release following a bail application.

Prosecutor Kitty Taylor said Rhule fled to Ghana and claimed to have been consulting witch doctors in his homeland about his medical problems.

It is understood that Rhule flew to Ghana in January 2000 and although detectives obtained an extradition warrant he remained at large until last year.

The court heard that Rhule's victim, who was aged 26 at the time of the rape, had effectively put her life on hold over the last decade.

In a victim impact statement the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, described feeling dirty, disgusted and extremely vulnerable at the time Rhule forced himself on her. She said she had made two attempts on her life after the rape.

Rhule admitted the rape charge when his case was listed for a trial last month.

Rhule was yesterday jailed for five years by Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC.

"I am satisfied that you identified that young woman as a vulnerable and a needy person," the judge told him.

The judge said in addition to the offence Rhule had subjected the

victim to a life-changing wait and had also required her to come to court for the intended trial. He ordered Rhule to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life after his release.