Description
A burglar returned to his victims home to rape her, four years after he was jailed for the crime.
Ashley Mills broke into the womans house with an iron bar as she slept alone. Once she woke up, the 28-year-old grabbed a knife, headbutted her and said chillingly: Ive come to rape you.
Police have now praised the womans quick thinking after she hid evidence that saw him sentenced to 18 years in prison.
But the victim, known only as Linda, said the attack has left her frightened to stay in her own home. She added: Sometimes when victims are killed, I think they are the lucky ones. They dont keep reliving the horror of it all any more.
The survivors have to live with this for the rest of their lives. Im grateful to be alive but now have all of the life-changing problems Im facing.
The 59-year-old, from Hampshire, had originally taken pity on Mills as he didnt have a place to stay.
She met him in 2009, when she let him pitch his tent in the fields behind her rural home. He later broke into the property and was jailed in 2010.
In June this year, he smashed through the front door of her home again and asked for a glass of water.
He warned that he would stab her if she tried to run away. She added: I just had to submit and he did what he wanted. His attack on me was long. He was in no hurry to get it over with.
Spotting Mills had dropped the knife and iron bar, she kicked the blade under the cooker and dropped the bar behind her sofa. Hes a dangerous person. Hes got no respect, she said. I wanted him to have a big sentence so he cant come out and do it again.
At Portsmouth crown court, Mills pleaded guilty to three counts of rape. Det Sgt Glenn Robinson said: The victim has shown great courage in coming forward.