WESTON MAN JAILED FOR VIOLENT RAPE DESPITE HIS VICTIM'S TRAUMA
A Weston rapist named Tom Ford will be released from jail in three years despite committing a serious sexual assault.He met his victim at a local nightclub and falsely claimed there was a party at his house to lure her back with him.
Once there, Ford violently raped her, pinning her down by the throat, which caused her to sustain over a dozen injuries.
The victim, whose identity is protected by the courts, has described profound emotional and psychological effects, including feelings of emptiness, night terrors, and a loss of trust, as well as an inability to wash away the trauma.
She stated: 'It’s had a massive impact on my life.
Before I was raped, I was out socialising, but often now I don’t want to leave my house for days at a time.
I don’t feel safe.
I now feel empty and never clean as I can’t wash rape away.
I feel humiliated and I haven’t been able to tell my friends or family.
I don’t have a good relationship with my siblings as they think I have gone off the rails as they don’t know what happened.
I have daily night terrors – I sleep with all the lights on.
Not a day goes by when I don’t think about the rape.' She also suffered 19 bruises to her neck and breasts, with her pain expected to be permanent.
The incident occurred on April 15, and Ford was found guilty of one count of rape by a jury on October 27 at Bristol Crown Court.
The judge, Mr.
Michael Vere-Hodge, sentenced Ford to six years in prison, with plans for him to serve half of that sentence.
The judge also remarked on Ford’s lack of remorse and arrogance, noting: 'You have a high self-regard and in my opinion an overinflated sense of self-importance.
During the trial you were smiling and displayed exaggerated disbelief at the jury’s verdict.
There’s a sense of arrogance about you.' Ford’s defense argued for mercy due to his good character and potential vulnerability in prison, emphasizing that he would be a 'vulnerable' inmate and that his status as a registered sex offender would restrict his travel options.
Nonetheless, law enforcement officials expressed relief that Ford was brought to justice, with DC Richard Grierson confirming his commitment to encouraging victims to report such crimes.
Ford is also known to have played cricket for Weston.
