WOMAN WHO WOKE UP TO PARTNER RAPING HER IN HER OWN BED IS JAILED
Lewis Spence, a resident of Fawdon, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.The victim, who was raped by the father of her child within her own home, felt trapped and betrayed by the man she once trusted.
Following his recent incarceration, she expressed relief and optimism about moving forward after a prolonged pursuit of justice.
Earlier this month, Spence, 26, received his sentence at Newcastle Crown Court after admitting to charges of rape and sexual assault.
His former partner courageously reported him to authorities three years ago after experiencing multiple attacks in their shared residence.
Now, as the mother of one reflects on her release from an abusive relationship, she has spoken to the Chronicle about the lasting effects of his actions on her life.
The 25-year-old explained: "It's horrible.
Not only has it totally affected my ability to trust people it's affected my trust in my own judgement.
I thought he was a good person which is why I wanted a family with him.
"It's took three years to get here but I finally feel like I can get on with my life.
I feel like I can start healing now." The woman knew Spence from school, and they reconnected during a night out in Newcastle in 2019.
Their relationship developed quickly, and she soon became pregnant.
She noticed a change in her partner after their daughter was born, and not long afterward, he raped her.
"I told him to stop, and he didn't," she recounted.
She described how Spence, who lives on Fawdon Lane, Fawdon, Newcastle, would try to manipulate her into believing he had done nothing wrong, even after attacking her.
"After he did it he would cry to me and say he was sorry," she said.
"He sort of manipulated me into thinking it was ok.
Each time it would be a different excuse.
I felt stuck.
He actually manipulated me into feeling sorry for him." Eventually, her father helped her escape and report the abuse to police in 2022.
"My dad found me having a panic attack, and I confided in him everything," she explained.
"I had to stay on my dad's sofa with my daughter because I just couldn't be in the flat." Due to court delays caused by the Covid pandemic, there was an extended wait for her ex-partner to be convicted and sentenced.
She spent those years living in constant fear of encountering him again.
"It was surreal.
I had to avoid certain areas," she said.
"I reported it in late 2022 and he's only been convicted now.
I had to avoid the area I grew-up in.
I never thought I would see the end of it."
