Top Welsh politician’s son jailed for rape

 The son of a Labour politician tipped to be the next First Minister of Wales has been jailed for more than eight years after a “cruel and degrading” sex attack on a young woman.

Jonathan Drakeford, 31, subjected the 22-year-old to “humiliation” after he forced her on to a bed before he spanked her with a leather paddle and raped her, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Drakeford, the son of Mark Drakeford, the Welsh Labour leadership front-runner, was found guilty of rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial earlier this week. Drakeford, from Cardiff, was yesterday sentenced to eight years and eight months.

Wendy Brady of the Crown Prosecution Service, said after the case that Drakeford carried out “a series of cruel and degrading acts”.

Before his trial Drakeford also pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence, after discussing having sex with a Facebook user who purported to be a 15-year-old girl.