NORTH CORNELLY WOMAN JAILED FOR BRUTAL RAPE OF INTOXICATED TEEN
Sarah Vigus, aged 38, of Heol Degwm, North Cornelly, was found guilty of raping a 17-year-old girl after she had passed out from alcohol consumption.The court heard that she had a history of professed sexual interest in the victim through messages, and she admitted to penetrating the victim's vagina with her fingers, claiming it was consensual, which the victim knew was not true.
The incident occurred after the girl spent the night drinking vodka, and she woke to find herself being raped while Vigus held her down and applied a forceful grip around her waist.
During the assault, Vigus's partner, Robert Ellis-Evans, was also involved, with the court hearing that upon waking, the girl saw Ellis-Evans holding up her legs and penetrating her with his penis.
The victim was extremely distressed, screaming and crying.
Vigus attempted to calm her and claimed the sexual activity was consensual, but the victim knew otherwise.
The next morning, both defendants were arrested and denied the charges, though Vigus made some admissions of her own.
She was also convicted of assault by penetration.
The woman described the profound impact the assault had on her mental health, stating she thought about it continuously, struggled with feelings of dirtiness, and experienced thoughts of self-harm and suicide.
The court sentenced Vigus to eight years and three months in prison, with her being made subject to lifetime sex offender notification requirements and an indefinite restraining order.
Vigus was described as having two children, having stopped drinking, and losing weight since her remand.
The judge acknowledged her as a low-risk of reoffending.
The victim expressed her ongoing emotional struggle, saying: 'Every day I think about what happened, it's had a massive effect on my mental health...
I feel dirty and no matter how many times I bath or shower or scrub myself I just don't feel clean.' She also explained her difficulty in moving on, stating she 'grieves for the person she was,' and hopes to rebuild her life.
The court recognized her as a person of previously good character.
The sentencing judge highlighted that both defendants violated her both emotionally and physically, especially given her vulnerability, with Ellis-Evans having no previous convictions for sexual offences, and Vigus being of good character prior to this incident.
The police expressed their respect for her resilience, emphasizing her courage in giving evidence, and noted her statement that she 'got to tell strangers what happened to her.'
