A 'dangerous offender' who inflicted a 'campaign of rape' on his terrified victim, reducing her to a shadow of her former self, has been jailed.

Faran Abbas subjected his victim to multiple rapes over a period of nine months, and controlled parts of her life and her behaviour.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she had her "innocence taken away and her body mauled" while she felt her "spirit had been crushed" and considered herself "ugly, un-loveable" and had "lost trust in others".

Prosecuting, David Traynor, said Abbas had inflicted a "campaign of rape" on his victim with his heinous crimes being "persistent over a prolonged period of time".

Abbas pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape but following a trial in May, the jury found the 28-year-old, of Church Street, Accrington, guilty.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Defending, Bob Elias said: "He has no credit, he had his trial and was convicted by the jury. 

"It's right to say that these offences demonstrate a cultural gap - he clearly isn't a westernised young man, and has the thinking patterns of an earlier time.

"There are even a number of family members who seem fit to write on his behalf.

"But he appears to be a creature of his own upbringing and his own heritage."

Sentencing Abbas, who has a previous conviction for conspiracy to commit GBH, to 18 years in prison, with two on extended licence upon release, Judge Simon Medland QC said Abbas had "sought to use the peaceful religion of Islam as an excuse" for his behaviour.

Judge Medland said: "He has a mindset where he sees this sort of behaviour as being acceptable.

"One thing is certain, you, Abbas, behaved to her in a brutish and violent way.

"You treated her as someone whose opinions were not worth listening to.

"You treated her with utmost contempt.

"You sought to use the peaceful religion of Islam as an excuse. Islam is no excuse for your behaviour. There is no excuse and there never could be one.

"The impact is very significant indeed and anyone who needs to review this might look no further than her personal statement. 

"You are not a man of good character.

"Over this period of nine months I am sure you behaved in a violent and brutal way to a woman who did not deserve any such treatment.

"You treated her life and her body as your own and I have no doubt you are a dangerous offender."

As well as an extended prison sentence, Abbas was placed on the sex offenders register for life. 

DS Peter Davies, of East CID said: “Farhan Abbas is a cruel individual who abused the victim to satisfy his own warped sexual gratification.

“He lied throughout this case, forcing the victim to have to give evidence.

"I would like to praise the victim for her bravery and I hope the significant sentence handed down to Abbas will give her some form of closure.

“I am pleased with the sentence handed down to Abbas, which reflects his dangerousness. Even once he is eventually released, Abbas will continue to be monitored by the authorities.

“I hope the outcome of this case will encourage other victims of sexual offences to come forward, knowing they will be believed and listened to and that Lancashire Police will use all the resources at our disposal to bring the perpetrator of such deplorable crimes to justice."

The police are committed to protecting women and girls from violence of all forms.

If you have been the victim of a sexual offence you can call 101 or report it here: https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/.