Violent husband jailed for eight years over wife's rape ordeal

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, tried to get her husband deported by the Home Office because of his violence and abuse towards her, but after he was allowed to remain in this country the couple got back together and tried to make a go of their arranged marriage.

But the Bradford woman said her husband continued to hit her and alleged he repeatedly raped her after he was granted indefinite leave to remain in Britain.

Last week the 27-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect his wife's anonymity, went on trial at Bradford Crown Court accused of eight rape offences, including three on the same day in September last year.

Yesterday the jury returned guilty verdicts on the three rape matters committed on the same day and cleared the defendant on five other allegations.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC suggested that the couple's happy marriage might have become marred by argument and violence as a result of the husband's failure to adjust to his wife's liberal views or his own flaws.

He noted the victim had tried unsuccessfully to get her husband deported and that the situation worsened after the defendant got his passport.

Judge Durham Hall said the violence escalated and the three rapes on what he called a "gruesome evening" were deeply sadistic and punitive.

The husband was made the subject of an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.