A HEREFORDSHIRE farmer who fled abroad before his trial could take place at Worcester Crown Court has been jailed for 17 and a half years at the same venue.

Rapist Anthony Woodhouse, aged 61, gave himself up a month ago to the British Embassy in Lisbon because he was “preoccupied with guilt”, said Joe Kieran, defending.

Three police officers travelled to Portugal to bring him back to face justice.

Woodhouse’s teeneage victim revealed the abuse to her mother during a lift to school, but Woodhouse then persuaded her to say she had lied, said Paul Whitfield, prosecuting.

He was due to face trial by jury on February 22, 1999, but absconded to run a cleaning business in Portugal, employing 12 people.

Woodhouse, who committed the crimes when working as a farmer in Kington, pleaded guilty to specimen counts of rape and indecent assault.

Judge Alistair McCreath said: “This is as bad a case of rape that one can imagine and it is difficult to overstate how wicked it was. It is inevitable that the child was hugely damaged.”

Mr Kieran said the defendant was an educated man who spoke five languages. His own daughter – who was not the victim – died tragically at the age of 19.

For 10 years he led a lawabiding life in Portugal. “But he became preoccupied with guilt every day,” said Mr Kieran.

“It became an increasing torment and he decided to stop his self-imposed exile.

“It was inexcusable conduct, dark and unnatural. He didn't have the moral purpose to stop."