Rapist's mother threatened victim

The mother of a rapist has been jailed for threatening his victim when they met by chance.

Lonitta Newton, 52, from Luton in Bedfordshire, told the woman that her other son was going to shoot her.

The victim said she had been putting her life together after the rape and the row brought back her vulnerability.

Newton was jailed for six months at Luton Crown Court where Judge Andrew Bright QC said: "Your words left her frightened, upset and scared."

When the two women crossed paths at the White Lion retail park in Dunstable on 15 February, Newton said: "You have made a big mistake putting my son in prison.

"My other son is going to put a bullet through your head."

Prosecutor Natalie Carter said the victim "gave as good as she got" during the confrontation, shouting back at Newton: "Your son is a rapist, deal with it."

Then she followed Newton while dialling 999.

'Unlikely to reoffend'

Ms Carter added: "She later told police that she had just regained control of her life following the rape but now felt vulnerable again."

Newton's son Stephen, who was on remand awaiting trial at the time of the confrontation, was jailed for five years for rape at Luton Crown Court in March.

Newton, a mother of four, of Anmer Gardens, pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening to take revenge.

Judge Bright said: "I accept you would not have carried out your threat into practice but you intended her to think you would.

"There is a need for deterrent sentences for those who threaten witnesses."

Mark Himsworth, defending, had urged the court to suspend the sentence.

"She is a God-fearing woman and is extremely unlikely to offend again," he said.