Description
A rapist's victim thought she was going to die when he broke into her home and lay in wait before fracturing her cheekbone and strangling her.
David Turner, 41, from Cardiff, carried out a "forceful and premeditated" assault on his victim, who he also raped while under the influence of cocaine and alcohol, causing her pain and humiliation.
The victim sustained injuries to her face after Turner hit her and strangled her after entering her home through a window and waiting until she returned to her house.
The defendant, who refused to leave his cell for sentencing, claimed the sex was consensual but this was dismissed by a jury who convicted him of rape and causing grievous bodily harm with intent, following a trial at Cardiff Crown
A sentencing hearing on Friday heard a victim personal statement from Turner's victim, who has lifelong anonymity.
She said: "The incident has dramatically effected my life in a number of ways. The injuries have still not healed, the bruises took six weeks to go and left me with an angry and painful left eye and numbness to the side of my face. As to this day I still have numbness to the left side of my face.
"My self esteem is so low I have contemplated suicide. I have nightmares and flashbacks, my mental health has declined and I am receiving therapy. I have had alarms, locks and security lights installed and a large fence built. He broke in and lay in wait for me to get home before he attacked me.
"I don't go places I have been before for fear of seeing him even though I know he's in prison and I have fears he will come out and get me. I won't leave the flat for days and I live in a constant state of anxiety and fear.
"He told me he was going to kill me that night and 100% thought I was going to die."
The victim added also told the court she struggled to trust men and people in general as a result of the attack and she is now moving home as she no longer feels safe.
She said: "I am nervous and everthing is a little bit more scary, even when walking my dogs I am too scared to go out.... I was quite happy go lucky and enjoyed going to the gym but I can't do that anymore and I even struggle to go places in my car. My life has changed completely."
Defence barrister said his client maintained sex was consensual but he did not deny sex occurred, which was the impression the author of pre sentence formed.
Sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "During the trial, the defendant had no grasp on the seriousness of his behaviour or its consequences... He's seriously damaged (the victim's) ability to trust persons of the opposite gender."
Turner was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, of which he will serve two thirds in custody before being released on licence. He was also made subject to a restraining order until further notice.