Killer gets life for raping woman and throwing her over bridge into river (From News Shopper)

Donald Andrews gets life for raping woman and throwing her over bridge into river

5:06pm Friday 18th May 2012 in News By Robert Fisk

Killer gets life for raping woman and throwing her over bridge into river

A CONVICTED killer who left a woman for dead after beating her unconscious, raping her repeatedly and pushing her over a bridge into a river may never be released from prison.

Donald Andrews's victim watched as the 48-year-old was told he must serve a life sentence for the ordeal he inflicted on her.

It started in the early hours of September 18 last year when he took her back from the Star and Garter pub in Bromley High Street to his flat in nearby Tweedy Road.

Instead of letting her phone for a taxi he double locked the door, beat her up and raped her several times throughout the night and into the next day.

Woolwich Crown Court heard Andrews then made her take a bath and wash her hair in an attempt to destroy forensic evidence before he told her he would take her to the train station.

Instead he then took her to a wooded area where he raped her again.

Then he told her he had killed before and that his plan was to kill her and chop her body into pieces.

Andrews then beat up the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, threw her over a bridge into the River Quaggy and left her for dead.

Before sentencing the victim's impact statement was read out in court.

In it she said: "I can never get away from the pain.

"Before this I had a normal sex life, now I feel nothing but emptiness.

"I want to be able to go out again and be normal again.

"I have given up hope of being able to dance again but I want to be able to walk again.

"Every time I close my eyes I can see his face and feel the weight of him on me.

"Sometimes I wake up with blood under my fingernails from scratching myself at night."

Andrews pleaded guilty to all charges.

As well as the life sentence Andrews was also given a five year sentence for false imprisonment and a five year sentence for actual bodily harm, to be served concurrently.

The court heard he had a string of violent previous convictions including two for manslaughter.