A DEPRAVED rapist arrested in Nailsworth after he went on the run has been jailed

Brady Hickman, 32, was arrested in Nailsworth after a member of the public recognised him from a police appeal.

Two days earlier on November 11 last year, he broke in to the home of an elderly woman in Gloucester and raped her.

He was jailed for 15 years at Gloucester Crown Court today after he previously pleaded guilty.

Hickman must serve a minimum of 10 years in prison and the remainder of his sentence on licence.

The court heard in a statement from the victim how she worries "she is scarred for life" following Hickman's attack and that the incident was "by far the most traumatic experience" she has experienced in her whole life.

Her statement also said she feels "totally violated and stripped of her dignity" from the incident, and explained her mental anguish where she feels anxious and scared in her own home now and suffers with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The statement said: "I've been suffering panic attacks since it all happened, causing me to have a constant headache, and even dizzy spells, and part of the panic attacks cause me to have heart palpitations.

"I am having flashbacks where I can still see him, vividly, and this is happening both during the day and at night - and can be really terrifying."

The woman, aged in her 70s, had used her Lifeline personal alarm to call for help after Hickman broke into her home through a window and assaulted her in bed.

He then fled from the scene.

Hickman, of Philip Street, Gloucester, was arrested two days later in Nailsworth after a police appeal was issued and a member of the public

recognised him.

He was subsequently charged with rape and two counts of sexual assault and admitted to all three of these offences at a hearing at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on November 15.

During sentencing, Judge Michael Cullum said the victim had shown "dignity, remarkable courage and resilience".

Regarding Hickman, he said that he posed "significant risk of causing future harm" and that he "presented unimpressively" due to his history of offending.

Hickman was placed on the sex offenders' register for life and made subject of a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim directly or indirectly.