A muscle-bound personal trainer who raped his sobbing victim after telling her he was a ‘caveman and violence solves everything’ has been jailed for 20 years.

Body builder Francis Skachill, 39, met the woman after she asked for help in getting fit and raped her twice.

But while on bail and awaiting trial, the violent thug sexually assaulted and attempted to rape a second woman, who fought her way free.

Jailing Skachill, of Rigby Street, Salford, Judge Stuart Driver told the defendant he was controlling, intimidating, violent - and a threat to women.

Bodybuilder and personal trainer Francis Skachill
Bodybuilder and personal trainer Francis Skachill

Manchester Minshull crown court heard how Skachill, who was prone to drink and taking cocaine, attacked his first victim in Stockport, pinning his arm across her throat as he raped her.

After the terrifying ordeal, he told his victim he was a ‘caveman’ and left her sobbing on a bed.

Prosecuting, Justin Hayhoe said he later raped her again, calling her ‘fat’ during the attack. He also assaulted his victim, injuring her foot.

But while on bail for the rape and assault offences, Skachill struck again.

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This time he met a woman on Facebook and, high on cocaine and alcohol, attempted to rape her at her home while her children were in the house.

Mr Hayhoe told the court: “He physically slapped her about her face and body. This was heard by her children who also saw the defendant naked in the house.”

His victim used all her strength to kick him from the bed and escaped to the kitchen - where he sexually assaulted her.

In statements to the court, his first victim described how her life had been ‘split in two’ by the rape - a time before and a time after her ordeal.

Bodybuilder and personal trainer Francis Skachill
Bodybuilder and personal trainer Francis Skachill

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She had been hurt ‘physically and emotionally’ and had led to a demotion at work. She was still dealing with the pain, she said.

His second victim said the attempted rape had left her feeling ‘anxious and vulnerable’ and her children were also shaken.

Defending, Stuart Neale said Skachill was determined to deal with his drinking. He would emerge from prison ‘significantly older and wiser’, he said.

But sending him down, Judge Driver told Skachill he had a propensity for violence - with a rap sheet including the assault of a woman where he bit her and cut her hair, an attack on a former colleague which left him brain damaged - as well as a racially aggravated assault.

He was jailed for a total of 20 years for two rape offences, assault, an attempted rape, an attempted sexual assault, and sexual assault.

Placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, suited Skachill’s expression remained passive as he was led away to the cells.