Former professional boxer rapes woman then wages months-long stalking and intimidation campaign

'Devious predator' Lyndon Newman threatened to burn his victim alive, police say

The 31-year-old, who was known in the ring as Lyndon 'Lights Out' Newman, has been jailed for 15 years (Greater Manchester Police)

A former professional boxer who raped a woman then subjected her to a campaign of stalking and intimidation – including covering her in petrol and threatening to set her alight – has been jailed for 15 years.

Lyndon Newman, 31, bombarded his victim with threatening messages by phone and on social media for “several months” after physically attacking her in the Greater Manchester area last summer, according to detectives who described him as an “animal”.

The onslaught of harassment culminated in an encounter outside a flat belonging to a friend of the woman. Newman arrived outside and began pouring petrol over her car before doing the same to his victim when she confronted him, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

“Thankfully the victim was able to placate Newman before he could take things any further,” the force said in a statement.

Newman, of Blackberry Lane, Brinnington, Stockport, was described by officers as a “devious predator”. He was jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday following a two-week trial in which he was found guilty of rape and stalking involving alarm or distress.

He will be on the sex offenders’ register for life, and has been handed an indefinite restraining order.

Detective Constable Louise Isherwood, of GMP, said: “Not only did Newman subject his victim to a terrifying ordeal when he raped her but he then continued to make her life a misery as he led a campaign of intimidation against her.

“Dangerous people like Lyndon Newman deserve to be locked up and it brings me great satisfaction to be able to say that his victim can now breathe easily as he spends the next 15 years in prison.

“She has shown an incredible amount of courage in coming forward to police despite the threats of this animal and I want to pay tribute to her for that.

“Her bravery has led to a devious predator being taken off the streets and put behind bars where he is unable to hurt any other women.”