AN ex-security guard received three life sentences for a series of rapes on a woman.

The victim of 25-year-old Ronald Lloyd (pictured) was described by prosecutor Huw Evans at Cardiff crown court as "weak, vulnerable and emotionally fragile. Lloyd of Ty Trappa Road, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, admitted three charges of rape. He denied five similar charges and it was directed they lie on the file.

Judge John Griffith Williams said Lloyd was a continual risk to women.

Lloyd, he said, had been described as "a very considerable risk to women and children throughout his life."

Mr Evans said he raped the woman, who was in her 20s, when he lived in Raglan. He caused her considerable pain and distress and used his strength to hold her down, Mr Evans told the court.

He also struck and threatened her, the court heard. The woman complained to the police in May 2001 but they had problems locating Lloyd. Eventually, said Mr Evans, Lloyd voluntarily went to Monmouth police station, where he denied the allegations and told officers they were "a load of rubbish."

The judge pointed out that he had been offered counselling and treatment but had rejected that.

Leighton Hughes, mitigating, said he now finally accepted his behaviour and his guilty pleas indicated some maturity.

Sentence had been adjourned for the judge to decide whether it should be life.