A former prostitute today urged vulnerable women to report attacks on them after the man who raped and beat her was locked up for seven years.

The woman, a former drug addict, said the sustained and brutal assault she suffered at the hands of Carleton Smith helped her to draw a line under her past life. Smith, 59, a forklift truck driver, of Whetley Lane, Bradford, was convicted by a jury yesterday of raping the woman and causing her actual bodily harm at his flat on December 30 last year.

He was cleared of intending to cause her grievous bodily harm, robbery and a second charge of rape.

The woman, in her thirties, told the jury Smith “looked evil” as he repeatedly punched and kicked her after accusing her of stealing £450 from his wallet. She said she was screaming and begging for her life.

Five recordings of 999 mobile phone calls made by the terrified woman during the 30-minute attack were played in the courtroom during the trial.

After the verdicts, Smith’s barrister, David McGonigal, said his client knew he was going to prison and did not need a pre-sentence report from the probation service.

Smith must sign on the sex offenders’ register for life and the judge made an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from contacting the woman.

After the case, the woman told the Telegraph & Argus: “The police treated me with the utmost respect during the investigation. I could not have asked for any more from them. I was particularly vulnerable at the time and I have had big support from my family.

“I would say to any girl in the same position as I was then, if you get attacked, go straight to the police because they are there to help you and I am proof of that.

“Although this has been a terrible ordeal, it did help to draw a final line under my old life.”

  • Read the full story in Tuesday's T&A