Locations
Church Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9
Description
A rape victim has said her "dreams disappeared" after being violently attacked and raped in Guildford in October.
On Friday (May 19), Avan Mogridge, of Church Street in Stamford, was sentenced to 18 years for raping and threatening to kill an 18-year-old woman in Guildford in October 2016.
Mogridge dragged the victim to a woodland copse where he raped, sexually assaulted and threatened to kill her.
He was sentenced to 18 years behind bars, 14 of which custodial with four years on licence.
In a statement read out in court, the victim spoke of the impact the violent attack has had on her life.
The victim said the day she was raped changed her life so much that she is now scared to leave her home, does not sleep and is frightened for her future.
The statement said: I used to be a bubbly and confident girl and enthusiastic about life and living it.
I had dreams for my future and dreams to achieve my dreams.
"I am now traumatised, scared, drained and frightened. What sort of life is this? Its not. Its an existence.
I havent been able to work and I loved my job.
I used to love my life, my friends and family, my work, my independence, my hopes and dreams.
But all that changed. One day in October, because of one person.
My life turned upside down and my dreams disappeared.
Following the sentencing of Mogridge, Detective Constable Tim Faltermeyer said: I hope that the victim can somehow find the strength to get on with the rest of her life knowing that justice has been served.
This was a horrifying and traumatising hour-long attack on an innocent young woman and I would like to commend her for the sheer bravery she has shown throughout the court process.
I would also like to thank the couple who witnessed and intervened and called police that morning, without them who knows how long the attack could have lasted.
I hope this reassures anybody who may have been a victim of sexual assault or rape that we take reports extremely seriously and specialist officers will always investigate fully and sensitively.