A violent sex beast who held a woman in his flat for TWO WEEKS while repeatedly beating and raping her has been jailed for life.
Jason O’Dell, 43, attacked the 38-year-old in her home leaving her with five fractured ribs, two black eyes and a broken nose.
He then took her back to his flat, where he forced her to change her hair colour so she wouldn’t be recognised before raping her and repeatedly assaulting her.
O’Dell stubbed out cigarettes on her skin, broke her nose three more times and then ordered her to scrub her own blood from the floor.
He then raped her again in a car on September 16 as she reeled in agony from the injuries she had suffered at his hands.
O’Dell denied the offences during a trial at Norwich Crown Court but was found guilty of three counts of rape, two counts of actual bodily harm, common assault, criminal damage and affray.
He already has 20 previous convictions for 79 offences and was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison – of which he must serve a minimum of nine years.
Sentencing, Judge Stephen Holt said: “It is quite clear to me you are someone who thrived on his reputation of crime.
“You have left her devastated. You have ruined her life. This is by no means the first occasion you have behaved this way towards women.”
The woman’s ordeal began on September 5 last year when O’Dell attacked her at her home in Cambridge before dragging her back to his flat in Wymondham, Norfolk.
She spoke out after the trial to reveal how the attack has caused her to lose her job, move house and become reliant on charities.
She waived her right to anonymity in order for the case to reported in full but asked not to be named.
She said: “I only met him in July last year, I didn’t plan to get into a relationship with him but I was helpless against his mind games.
“It all built up to September 5, my son’s birthday. Then bang, it all started. After that I just couldn’t get out of the cycle of his beating and abusing me.
“From the moment I met him, I had a feeling deep down that something bad was going to happen but didn’t know what to do to stop it.
“I’m a strong person but he completely messed my head up. It’s like I have been on another planet these last few months.
“I have lost a really well-paid job, had to move completely out of the area away from my children and start all over again.
“If it wasn’t for the Salvation Army and other charities I would be on the streets.
“If I hadn’t gone to police I have no doubt he would have come after me.
“Even if I had managed to get away there would be another woman out there who would be his next victim. He might have even ended up killing her. He almost killed me.
“I just hope this gives other victims the strength to come forward and speak up.”
Detective Constable Owen Hurley said: “The victim in this case has shown great courage.
“Without her fortitude this prosecution could never have succeeded and O’Dell would have still been free to hurt others.
“The support offered to her by her friend and a concerned family member, who had also contacted police, was crucial to keeping her safe.
“Everyone can play a part in tackling domestic abuse.
“O’Dell spent most of his life in Cambridge and had a reputation for violence.
“I want to thank those witnesses who came forward and made statements about his past behaviour and his publicly violent and intimidating actions.
“Domestic abuse causes long-term harm to victims and their children. As in this case it can escalate to a level which is life threatening.
“We will continue to intervene, support victims and bring offenders to justice.”
In 2006 O’Dell was jailed for three years at Cambridge Crown Court for repeatedly beating up a mother-of-six.
