Rapist jailed after stalking girl

Jennings told the girl he had a knife

A rapist who followed a teenage student off a late night train and subjected her to a "prolonged and violent" sex attack has been jailed.

Samuel Jennings, 21, of Stour Green, Ely, stalked the 18-year-old through the town after spotting her on a train.

He grabbed her, beat her and dragged her to a grassy area before telling her "you are going to die tonight".

At Cambridge Crown Court Jennings admitted two charges of rape and was given an indeterminate sentence.

Judge Jonathan Haworth said the minimum term he must serve is four and a half years.

CCTV footage

Mara Maciejowski, prosecuting, told how the teenage girl had gone to a party in Cambridge in November 2006 and caught the last train back to Ely.

Jennings, who was also on board, followed her through a supermarket car park, along Back Hill, Silver Street and into Cromwell Road.

The court heard he grabbed her by a grassy area and pushed her to the ground before raping her.

At one stage he told her: "By the way, you are going to die tonight."

Despite what was happening to her, the court heard the girl managed to free one hand and fight back before Jennings was forced to run off.

Police examined CCTV footage which showed Jennings arriving at Cambridge Railway Station to catch the train to Ely.

Later when he was arrested, the girl's handbag was found at his home.

Passing sentence, Judge Haworth told him: "You indulged in a prolonged and violent attack upon her."