MAN WHO RAPED PREGNANT WOMAN JAILED FOR 5 YEARS
A woman who survived a sexual assault has expressed her desire to regain her previous life, stating that the incident has severely damaged her confidence and harmed her relationship with her child.This woman, in her twenties, was unaware she was pregnant when she was attacked by Aaron Mason after a night out in Leicester.
She fell asleep in separate beds, but woke in the early hours to find Mason beside her, with her underwear pulled down.
Mason, aged 23, received a five-year prison sentence.
He appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Monday, where he was convicted of one count of rape following a trial in January.
Additionally, Mason, residing on Cranstone Crescent in Leicester, has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Although she chose to speak publicly after sentencing, the victim’s identity remains protected under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which grants her the right to anonymity.
"Since I was assaulted by Aaron Mason my life has never been the same," she said.
"On the date I was raped I was unaware I was pregnant - this was confirmed a couple of days later.
Although I knew my son was not fathered by the defendant, it made me feel distant from my growing child.
The rape affected how I felt about the whole pregnancy." She and Mason went on a night out with mutual friends in May 2019, police said.
It was while the victim and the defendant were staying at the same location in the West Leicester area that the offence occurred.
When challenged by the victim and others at the address, Mason offered no explanation or account for his actions.
It was not until police got involved that it was established a serious sexual offence had taken place, leading to Mason being charged in 2020.
The victim added: "Over the last four years I have struggled profoundly.
When my son was born I felt guilty and became very protective of him.
I didn't want anyone to touch him.
I was in a very low place.
"I frequently have bad dreams about what happened to me on that dreadful night and I still find it hard to trust any men in my life.
I had a lot of male friends who I no longer have anything to do with and this is through no fault of their own but because of what happened to me.
"I hope that one day I will be able to get my life back and be the confident, outgoing person I used to be before this happened to me.
I want to feel safe again." The victim has also received support from independent support services in Leicester, including an independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) working for Freeva, which supports victims of sexual and domestic abuse.
