A savage thug with “an insatiable sexual desire” raped a woman and physically assaulted her in a separate incident, a court heard.

Josh Courtney smirked in the dock before a judge sentenced him to 11 years in jail, telling him he had “degraded, humiliated and demeaned” the victim.

The 24-year-old, formerly of Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, protested after he was convicted of two rape charges and one of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Courtney had previous convictions for assault when in April this year he attacked the victim by throwing her onto the ground in Chatham.

She later told police: “He literally picked me up and threw me on the floor. I don’t know why.” She then went to say he had raped her twice.

Judge Julian Smith granted an application for Courtney to be handcuffed during the sentencing hearing.

The judge said the victim had told how Courtney “took what he wanted”.

“On her account, the rape was preceded by some violence,” he continued. “Blows were struck. There is uncertainty how it took place, not that there was any doubt about it.”

Courtney’s behaviour towards the woman had been “utterly corrosive of her confidence”.

“You are young and immature,” he added. “Your conduct in these matters is of the most profound and grave nature, and you must face the consequences.

“I have reduced the sentence to reflect your age and personal circumstances. You have indicated you are innocent. You are not. The jury found you guilty on clear evidence.”

Courtney was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years for the rapes and 18 months consecutive for grievous bodily harm.

Courtney denied the charges but was convicted by a jury. In a separate matter, he admitted stealing a motorcycle and attempting to burgle a service station.

John Fitzgerald, defending, said mitigation was “scant”.

“It is clear this is a young man who has had very little of life to date,” he said. “He was into care at the age of six. He was pushed form pillar to post by that care system.

“There was no stability at all, no education at all, no boundaries at all - and so a chaotic and difficult childhood. He dealt with problems in completely the wrong way.

“He has no history of sexual offending. His offending history is minor and petty.”

His name will appear indefinitely on the sex offenders’ register and he will be barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer DC Sandra Stirk said: "The crimes committed by Josh Courtney were truly horrendous and he has failed to accept responsibility for his actions from day one.

"The victim displayed tremendous courage in reporting his actions to us and supporting the investigation and subsequent court case, and I hope the end result provides some small comfort for her.

"Josh Courtney is clearly a very violent young man who deserves to be behind bars."