A RAPIST who went on the run will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the rest of his life.

Jason Vincent Longhurst, 44, did not attend his trial at York Crown Court at the start of September and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The trial went ahead and the jury convicted him in his absence of strangulation with intent to rape and rape of a young woman some years ago.

Following a nationwide hunt, he was arrested towards the end of October in East Yorkshire after nearly two months on the run.

He was brought before York Crown Court and told he had been sentenced to nine years in jail.

Longhurst, formerly of Lindsey Avenue, Acomb, pleaded guilty to failure to attend court.

He was given an extra month in jail, to be served after he finishes the nine-year sentence.

He was also made subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order with a condition that he doesn’t contact directly or indirectly the young woman in any way.

Longhurst attended the hearing at which the order was made via a video link from Hull Prison.

The jury were unaware he was on the run until after they returned their verdicts.

They heard he had only been released from prison hours before he carried out the rape.