ONLY days after leaving jail, a convicted rapist went on the rampage robbing and terrorising women staff in four Bolton shops.

Homeless Stuart Partington "terrorised and tormented" victims with a knife and a gun over six hours one day last November in Bolton town centre, a court was told.

Yesterday was his 33rd birthday and at Manchester Crown Court he was jailed for life with a recommendation he serves at least eight years.

Mr Justice Forbes told him: "You have shown no pity for your victims or remorse for these grave crimes.

"In one case you sexually attacked one of them - it was as bad a case of indecent assault as it is possible to imagine.

"Words cannot express the true measure of the horror and degradation you inflicted upon your victim."

Bolton-born Partington, of no settled address, admitted four robberies and the indecent assault. He also admitted twice indecently assaulting a man in a hostel where both were staying a few days before the robberies.

His counsel, Ian McDonald QC, said Partington had an untreatable personality disorder and was not mentally ill.

"He understands the seriousness of the offences, but has no insight into the terror and alarm he has caused," said counsel. "It simply does not register."

David Friesner, prosecuting, said Partington grabbed hold of assistants, threatening them with weapons and demanding cash.

In all, he got £340 from tills and handbags, a gold chain and personal jewellery. It included one woman's wedding and engagement rings, which he sold.

Some victims feared they would be raped. They were dragged round the shops and a gun was put in their mouths. The knife was also held against throats.

In the sex attack, he cut through the woman's jumper and 'T' shirt, fondled her breasts and removed other clothing.

He touched her private parts with the knife, dragged her upstairs and indecently assaulted her again. The ordeal lasted 45 minutes before he left. Partington bought an airgun and pellets before the last two robberies.

The court heard he was freed less than a month earlier from a seven year term imposed in May, 1991, for raping a woman.

Partington was given a life sentences for the robberies. He was given concurrent terms of eight years for the attack on the woman and four years for the indecent assaults on the man.

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