THE victim of a Blackburn rapist has told how the abuse made her want to end her life.

David Russell, 44, of Blackburn, but of no fixed address, was last week jailed for 13 years after carrying out a string of sinister attacks on two young girls over a number of years.

He pleaded guilty to the three counts of raping a woman over 16, three counts of raping a girl under 13 and gross indecency with a girl under 16.

The woman, who lives in Blackburn, has now spoken out about her ordeal in a bid to encourage other victims of sex attackers to have the courage to go to the police.

The victim said: "I saw him for the first time since it had happened at the sentencing and I was surprised how much he had aged.

"He was laughing throughout the case and shaking his head in disbelief at some of the things that were coming out but it was all true and he knows what he did.

"He wasn't laughing when he was sentenced to 13 years.

"I will never forget the look he gave me. It was evil and as if he was saying to me with his eyes just you wait until I get out'."

"I'm living for the moment now and just want to move on with my life."

She said she would not have got through her ordeal had it not been for the support of her children and husband.

The woman added: "He has been a tower of strength throughout it all. I don't know what I would have done without him.

"I went through a stage of hating myself and cutting myself.

"He made me want to end my life. I find it hard now to even be at parties because I don't like to be in big crowds of people.

"It has made me very shy and untrusting of men."

Officers were first alerted to the attacks after one of his victims, claimed she had been sexually assaulted in a Blackburn pub.

However, during the investigation detectives said it soon became clear that the attack had not happened and that the claim was a "cry for help".

The other victim told officers what happened after they launched an investigation in February last year.

Russell was arrested and bailed pending further inquiries.

He then went on the run from police and was later found in Carlisle.