Man kidnapped and attacked woman after 'date rape' claim

A young woman was beaten with a hammer after making a false date- rape allegation, a court was told yesterday.

Denzil Howell, 25, of Croydon, south London, was jailed for five years for kidnap and assault causing grievous bodily harm but cleared of rape.

Brian Altman, for the defence, told the court the case 'exemplified' the dangers of woman falsely claiming they had been raped.

Southwark Crown Court was told that the 18-year-old woman was beaten with a hammer and taken on a five-hour terror ride by Howell, who weighs 18 stone, after he heard of the allegation against him. He called at her home and attacked her, shouting: 'So I'm a rapist, am I?' The jury was told that Howell then took a hammer and used the handle of it to strike the woman's face, legs, head and body. At one stage he rammed it into her mouth. He also caused 'substantial damage' to her flat.

Howell's co-defendant, Darren Woodhouse, 21, of South Croydon, was also convicted of assault and kidnap. He was jailed for two years.