Jail for rape of pregnant woman

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Raping and bashing a pregnant woman has earned a Taranaki man a six-year, 10-month jail term.

Shane Conrad Heal, 24, of Hawera, pleaded guilty to the 2007 rape and assault of the woman, who told in her victim impact statement of the pain she suffered as a result of the rape.

She also suffered mental health problems, lost weight and feared Heal would kill her, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

Heal's lawyer, Kylie Pascoe, told Judge Allan Roberts at sentencing in the New Plymouth District Court this week that Heal had been remanded in jail for two years on other matters which did not proceed and during that time was in "lockdown" for up to 24 hours a day.

It had significantly affected him, she said.

But Judge Roberts said Heal had taken little responsibility for his offending and jailed him for six years and 10 months, and declined a non-parole period.

- NZPA