THE former manager of Settle Swimming Pool has been jailed for seven years after being convicted of rape.

Jonathan Harkin, 39, of Stanley Street, Carnforth, was also found guilty of falsely imprisoning the victim and threatening to kill her.

The conviction has left many in the Settle community reeling with shock as Harkin was well thought of.

Harkin denied the offences but was convicted at a trial held at Preston Crown Court in December. A ban on reporting the case was imposed pending a trial into a further allegation of rape.

At a hearing this week that charge was allowed to lie on the file. However strict reporting restrictions have been imposed to protect the identity of his victim.

During the trial Harkin claimed that his victim had consented to sex and denied making any threats.

He was arrested by armed police in Settle on April 21 last year, and pupils at the nearby middle school were ordered to stay indoors.

Louise Blackwell, prosecuting, told the court that the defendant had a black gun which was around seven inches long. The victim was petrified and heard a clicking noise and was convinced he would use it.

The weapon and the ammunition were subsequently found in a police search near Settle Swimming Pool, where he had worked for four and a half years.

Harkin claimed that he had bought the airgun as a present for a teenager who was not old enough to own such a weapon.

Judge Edward Slinger described Harkin as 'calculating and dangerous'.

The Settle community has been shocked by Harkin's conviction, with many unable to believe that he was capable of committing a crime.

Dorothy Jobling, of Craghill Road, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, an Age Concern swimmer who uses the pool three times a week, was one of those to contact the Herald to say she still believed in his innocence.

'During his time in Settle he made many close friends. He had the ability to ensure that those who entered the pool felt welcome and his humour and good spirits were always obvious. He showed great care and attention towards Age Concern, the disabled swimmers, water babies and everyone who used the pool. The community has supported him because he has always supported the community.'Mrs Jobling added that after Harkin's conviction but before sentence a large number of people had written to the judge to state their feelings and support for him.

Harkin's colleagues and friends at Settle Swimming Pool greeted the newsof his conviction with disbelief, said Helen Firth, of the pool's management committee.

She added that since his arrest, Harkin had continued to help in the smooth running of the pool with telephone calls from custody giving guidance and advice.

And this week Jean Lonsdale, of Ellwood Cottages, Langcliffe, contacted the Herald to say that Harkin had bought the airgun as a present for her son, Ben, a lifeguard at the pool, because he was intending to learn target shooting as a skill for his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

She added that Harkin was going to teach Ben as he was already involved with helping with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award through swimming and life saving courses.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.