A man who raped and punched a woman in Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed for nine years. 

Audrius Zukauskas, 55, of Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Friday 28 November after he admitted three counts of the rape of a woman and one count of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm. 

He was jailed for nine years and will serve an additional three years on extended licence. 

Zukauskas met the survivor at a bus stop earlier this year and invited her to his apartment where he raped her and punched her in the face. 

Staffordshire Police officers arrived at the scene and arrested Zukauskas after someone called 999 and reported that a woman was covered in blood and fighting with a man. 

PC Eve Loach, from the Staffordshire Police rape and serious sexual offences unit, said: "This was a particularly distressing attack on the victim who has shown immeasurable bravery in coming forward and supporting our investigation. 

"We are determined to support survivors and to seek the toughest possible punishment in court for perpetrators of sexual and physical violence in Staffordshire." 

Staffordshire Women's Aid's Survive service offers free, non-judgemental and confidential support for those affected by sexual assault or abuse, including close family members and significant others. For more information and support, visit: Sexual Violence and Abuse - Staffordshire Women's Aid.

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