A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for the rape and robbery of a woman who was jogging in a Manhattan park.
Prosecutors say Paul Niles was sentenced on Tuesday after being convicted of rape, robbery and strangulation. The November 2015 attack happened in the East River Park in downtown Manhattan.
Police say Niles grabbed the 26-year-old runner's hair, put his arm around her throat, pulled her off the footpath, raped her and stole her credit card. He then used the credit card at a nearby deli.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance called it a "brutal stranger assault" and commended the victim for her bravery in bringing the attacker to justice.
Niles' lawyer said his client was homeless and denied the rape charges.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
