Jail for rapist who posed as Good Samaritan

A rapist posed as a Good Samaritan and offered a woman a lift home before driving her to a remote location and attacking her.

Mark Nicholls, 37, was driving around the Barnsley area in April last year when he approached his 19-year-old victim.

Instead of dropping her off safely, he took her to an isolated area and assaulted her. He locked the terrified teenager in the car before finally allowing her to leave, South Yorkshire Police said.

Nicholls, who was earlier found guilty of rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment at Sheffield Crown Court, was jailed for 10 years.

The teenager reported the 14 April attack to police, who discovered the button from her jeans on the back seat of her attacker's car when they seized it.

Nicholls, of Mallory Way in Barnsley, was charged two days after he committed the offences and was sentenced on Monday.

Det Con Alice Gilbert said she "applauded" the victim's courage.

The officer added: "She has demonstrated great strength in coming forward, providing evidence at court, and helping to bring Nicholls to justice."

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