A 62-year-old care home owner who repeatedly raped one of his employees has been jailed for 15 years.

James Safo threatened to get his victim deported if she refused his advances by telling her he had power over her student visa applications.

The rapist, from Hayes Lane in Kenley, ran the Alexandra House care home in Addiscombe, Waratah House in Sanderstead, The Warren in Croydon and Heathland in Dorking.

He had been found guilty at Croydon Crown Court of three counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and two counts of sexual assault between 2007 and 2009.

Safo’s victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court she had lived in fear of Safo and his threats to her immigration status, and was deeply ashamed and embarrassed by what had happened.

Detective Sergeant Gary Small, from the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Command, said: “We hope that the sentence imposed upon Mr Safo today will in some way be of comfort to the victim in this case and will help her in her efforts to move forward following her traumatic experiences.”