US bunker rapist jailed

Jamelske cried in court as he apologised to his victims

A retired handyman from New York State who kidnapped women and used them as sex slaves has been sentenced to 18 years to life in jail.

Sixty-eight-year-old John Jamelske, from near Syracuse, New York, kept his victims in a concrete bunker under his home for up to three years.

During sentencing on Tuesday the judge ignored a plea for leniency, calling Jamelske "a sick coward", a kidnapper and a rapist.

The kidnappings, which occurred from 1988 to 2002, were uncovered when his final victim, a 16-year-old girl, managed to call her family for help.

None of the victims were killed - they were used for sex.

I hope you die in the cold, cement cell, like you wanted us to do Victim

Jamelske cried in court, and said: "I'm truly sorry for what I did."

He was arrested in April and last month agreed to plead guilty to kidnapping.

Jamelske told authorities he began seeking out girls and women in 1988, after his wife became bedridden with cancer. She died in 1999.

He was arrested in April after the teenager managed to phone her sister when Jamelske took her out on errands after six months of captivity.

After Jamelske's arrest, police identified four other women who said he abducted and raped them, dating back to 1988.

Trauma

The victims ranged in age from 13 to 53 and were held captive in a bunker from two months to three years.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors read excerpts from statements each woman.

The 16-year-old victim wrote that she almost gave up hope as she was raped daily.

"Please lock him up and never allow him to perpetrate on any young, innocent girls again," she said.

"I hope you die in the cold, cement cell, like you wanted us to do."

Another woman wrote that she wanted Jamelske "sentenced to the foulest dungeon in creation for all of eternity".