Florin Moraru, 25, from Romania, launched the attack on his victim after she left a nightclub on New Year's Day in Kettering, Northamptonshire

A migrant battered and raped a woman just 11 days after arriving in Britain following his release from prison in his home country.

Florin Moraru, 25, from Romania, launched the attack on his victim after she left a nightclub on New Year's Day in Kettering, Northamptonshire.

The incident took place less than two weeks after Moraru entered the country from Eastern Europe.

Judges in Romania released him on license from a prison sentence for attacking another woman during a violent robbery in his homeland, in 2014.

In the early hours of January 1, this year, Moraru followed his victim after she left the nightclub.

As she entered a churchyard he crept up behind her before punching her in the face and she fell to the floor screaming 'no, no, no'.

But the thug continued to punch her eight times - leaving her with serious facial injuries and fractures - and was shouting 'shut up you f*****g bitch.

When the victim stopped struggling Moraru raped her.

Passers-by who heard her screams dialled 999 and police officers arrived at the scene at 5.15am.

A DNA sample matched Moraru's and he was arrested on January 6 at his place of work - a car wash in Corby, Northamptonshire.

At Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday, Nicola Moore, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant came up to her and tried to kiss her and she kissed him back.

'She went outside for a cigarette and he pestered for sex. She said 'no' and went back into the club.

'He followed and asked her to go with her so they could have sex. She said it was never going to happen.'

Moraru then followed his victim, who asked three men for help as he continued to hassle her for sex as she walked to a shop.

Even after being approached by the men, the rapist continued to follow her, with CCTV images showing him walking a minute behind her, before the attack.

A victim impact statement read to the court described the consequences of the attack on the woman.

Miss Moore added: 'She said that she felt responsible for what happened and felt physically sick when she thought about it.

'She indicated that she does not like to go out after dark and insists that she is accompanied.'

When Moraru was arrested he initially denied causing the injuries and said the sex was consensual, but later admitted the offences.

He pleaded guilty to rape and causing actual bodily harm and was jailed for 10 years and eight months.

Moraru was also made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and made to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

At Northampton Crown Court (file photo) on Tuesday, Moraru was jailed for 10 years and eight months

Sentencing, Judge Rupert Mayo said: 'It was plain to anybody that she did not want your company.

'You waited, you were a minute behind her as you followed her into a churchyard.

'In the churchyard you brutally raped her and used your fists to smash her face in.'

The court heard Moraru launched the vile attack after he tried to pester the victim for sex earlier on inside the nightclub.

After the case, Detective Sergeant Nick Cobley, from Northamptonshire Police, said: 'Florin Moraru is an extremely violent man who carried out a despicable act.

'His behaviour on the night of the incident was predatory and calculated, showing a high level of persistence and having no regard for his victim's rights or wishes.

'Today's sentencing has brought a swift resolution to an horrific incident, ensuring this evil man is locked up and unable to commit further offences or put anybody else through such a terrifying ordeal.

'I'd like to commend the victim for her bravery and hope today's sentencing brings some for of closure for her.'

Following the conviction, Conservative MP for Kettering Philip Hollobone said foreigners with a criminal record should not be allowed to enter the country.

He said: 'This was a vicious, horrendous and vile crime, which has tainted our town.

'My heart goes out to the victim.

'Foreign nationals with criminal records should be barred from ever coming to Britain.

'Foreign nationals who commit crimes in the UK should serve their prison sentences in full back in their country of origin and never be allowed to re-enter the UK.

'I am afraid that whilst we remain in the EU, EU nationals with criminal records are free to travel from one EU country to another, but once we leave we can get back control of our borders and we could put a stop to free movement for criminals.'

A Home Office spokesman added: 'Foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality by committing crimes in the UK should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them and we seek to remove anyone who is handed a custodial sentence.

'All passengers are checked against police, security and immigration watch lists on arrival and where we are aware of individuals who pose a risk, Border Force officers can - and do - refuse them entry.'