A ‘vile and depraved’ man who subjected a Chinese student to a prolonged sex attack in which he raped her multiple times has been jailed for 22 years.

Leo Del Pellegrino, who is 26 and from Addlestone in Surrey, was found guilty of nine counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault by penetration, following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

During the eight-day trial, the court heard from the 25-year-old victim, who was a student in Sheffield at the time, and travelled back from China to give evidence and see her attacker jailed.

The court heard Del Pellegrino had been 'persistent' in his efforts the meet his victim in November last year, who had reluctantly agreed out of politeness.

During the attack he also cut her with a knife, tied her hands together and took photos of her during the acts, which he threatened to release if she ever told anyone. He also wrote obscene graffiti on her body before she was able to escape and call for help when he fell asleep.

Detective Constable Leon Hobson, the officer in charge of the investigation, paid tribute to the 'exceptional bravery' of the victim.