Wife stands by him

THE wife of violent stranger rapist Eric McKenna has vowed to prove his innocence moments after seeing him found guilty of the two attacks.

McKenna is facing a lengthy prison sentence after jurors convicted him of attacking lone women.

During the trial, the 59-year-old’s wife - a successful accountant - gave evidence in his favour and continues to support him.

Before the jury came into court to deliver their verdicts, scaffolder McKenna waved toher in the public gallery and gave her a thumbsdown.

As she left the courtroom following the guilty verdict, the woman, who the Chronicle has agreed not to name, said: “He is innocent and I will fight to prove it. He didn’t do it.”

From the witness box during the trial, McKenna’s smartly-dressed wife gave evidence saying they married in 1982 and have a 34-year-old daughter.

She said he was “massively supportive” when she was doing her accountancy degree.

She said he had an affair in around 1984 but she forgave him.

Asked if he was ever violent towards her, she replied: “Never.

“One of the things that attracted me to him was he was shy and very kind. “He has never ever been violent.” Asked if he has ever forced her to have sex, she said: “No definitely not.

“In fact he was the one person I trusted. I would not get very drunk unless I was with him because he would not take advantage of me.”