A rapist who told a woman to "just forget about it" after he finished attacking her has been jailed for nine years.

Jack Crannage, 27, ignored his victim's pleas to stop as he forced himself upon her, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The woman said the trauma of the rape was made worse by Crannage's continual lies, which resulted in her having to give evidence at trial.

Jurors found Crannage, from Hartlepool, guilty of rape after a three-day trial.

As he was raping her, Crannage told the woman to "stop complaining" as she repeatedly told him to get off, prosecutor Annelise Haugstad said.

When he finished, he told her to "just forget about it", the court heard.

The woman told the court she now felt scared and anxious, adding Crannage's actions had "changed who I am".

She said she initially feared people would think she was to blame but now realised it was not her fault.

Crannage "lied to everyone", the woman said, which meant she had to go to court to give evidence at his trial.

"He made me have to go to court to get justice," she said. "I knew I was telling the truth but I was still scared."

Judge Peter Armstrong praised the woman for "bravely" attending court, with her statement showing the psychological harm caused by Crannage had been "severe".

He said Crannage did not have the "courage" or "good sense" to plead guilty, and there was no mitigation in the form of an admission, apology or remorse.

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