Judge hands Limerick man nine years for rape

A Limerick man who viciously raped a woman after he stopped another man hassling her on the street has been jailed for nine years.

Timmy Tobin, aged 29, from Hogan Avenue, Kileely, pleaded guilty to four counts of rape which took place on August 14 last year in a wooded area in the city.

The court heard Mr Tobin raped his victim repeatedly in an ordeal lasting up to one-and-a-half hours.

They had met on the street when he came to her rescue to stop a man hassling her for cigarettes.

They then went for a walk in a wooded area and he violently attacked her when she rejected his advances,

He also made her wash in a stream afterwards to eliminate any evidence.

He then cried and apologised before making his escape.

Mr Justice Barry White imposed a 14-year sentence but suspended the final five years noting the accused had handed himself into gardaí and shown genuine remorse.