Rape and string of sexual assaults.

A 47-year-old man has been jailed for 14 years after being convicted of rape and sexual assaults.

Mario DiMaggio, of Jacobs Wells Road, Bristol, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and 12 counts of sexual assault. All offences were committed against one woman in early 2019.

The trial judge, William Hart, called DiMaggio predatory in his behaviour as he sentenced him to the prison term at a hearing on March 14. He also imposed a lifetime restraining order and placed DiMaggio on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The offences were reported to the police in February 2019. Investigating officer DC Martin Rutterford said: "Mario DiMaggio is a predatory sex offender and a danger to women. After the jury saw the extremely harrowing evidence, they unanimously decided he was guilty of all the charges he faced trial for."

"The victim in this case has shown remarkable bravery throughout the investigation and resulting court proceedings, and I hope this outcome will be of some comfort to her after the terrible ordeal she's been through," added DC Rutterford.

"I also hope this outcome shows other victims of rape and sexual offences that they will be listened to, believed and respected if they report offences to us. We will carry out thorough investigations to bring dangerous offenders like DiMaggio to justice."