Two brothers have been jailed for 10 years today after they abducted, brutally raped and abandoned a 17-year-old girl a decade ago.

Lee Ainsby, 32, of Brackley Road, Croughton, Northamptonshire, and Stephen Ainsby, 34, of Glamis Place, Banbury, admitted kidnapping and raping a girl as she walked along Warwick Road in Banbury on June 23, 1995. They were tracked down through DNA evidence.

The teenager was walking home after a night out with friends when she was abducted by the brothers.

They drove to a secluded spot in the countryside near Ladbrooke where they threatened to kill her and then repeatedly raped her.

The men left her semi-naked at the scene and drove off.

The terrified victim ran through the countryside over gates and through hedges until she reached Ladbrooke. She knocked on a stranger's door and was taken in by a couple who called the police.

Fiona Horlick, prosecuting at Oxford Crown Court, said it was a "brutal, heartless attack" and added: "The defendants have lived as free men for 10 years while the victim's life and her family's life was shattered."

Lee Ainsby was caught in 2003 after police arrested him for a separate drunk and disorderly charge and found his DNA matched that found on the victim's body.

Experts analysing his DNA realised the second attacker must have been a close relative and the older brother was arrested. He later confessed.

David Hughes, defending Stephen Ainsby, said: "He accepts that he was a willing participant in a disgraceful and frightening incident. He is ashamed and deeply regrets what occurred. He can proffer no explanation as to why he did it."

Mr Hughes said his client was 22 when the offence took place. He said that Stephen, who was driving, stopped the car when they passed the victim on his brother's instructions.

He said the men had not planned the offence. Graham Logan, defending for the older brother, said: "It is an offence that is wholly inexplicable."

He told the judge: "I know you will give him credit for co-operating with the police and his guilty plea and his genuine desire to prevent the victim having to relive the ordeal through giving evidence."

Judge Julian Hall said: "This is a genuine violent stranger rape and abduction. Fortunately this is a very rare case. I say fortunately because this is a quite horrific experience.

"This offence has shattered the life of the victim and other members of her family.

"I can only hope the fact you have admitted and confessed will help them in some psychological way."

The men were both jailed for 10 years each for rape and five years each for kidnap, the sentences to run concurrently.