A teenager woke up to find herself being raped by a man while his girlfriend pinned her down. Robert Ellis-Evans, 39, and Sarah Vigus, 38, from Bridgend, south Wales, subjected the youngster to the terrible ordeal after she had spent the night drinking vodka shots with the pair.
Ellis-Evans and Vigus had previously professed to having a sexual interest in the girl and had talked about taking part in group sex, a court heard. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard the girl passed out or fell asleep due to the amount she had drunk.
When she woke up she found cruel Vigus hovering over her with a hand around her waist, pinning her down. The court heard she was unsure what was happening to her until she realised Ellis-Evans was raping her and she began screaming.
Ellis-Evans stopped and Vigus tried to calm the youngster down, falsely claiming she had consented. The girl later told her parents what happened and the police were called. Ellis-Evans and Vigus were arrested the next day and denied the rape.
Vigus and Ellis-Evans, both of Heol Degwm, North Cornelly, were both found guilty of rape. Vigus was also found guilty of assault by penetration.
The court heard Ellis-Evans has no previous convictions for sexual offences and Vigus was of previous good character.
In a statement read to the court by prosecutor James Evans, the youngster said: “Every day I think about what happened, it’s had a massive effect on my mental health.”
She added: “I tried to convince myself it was a bad dream and wasn’t a big deal but then it hits me in the face. They took advantage of me and used me as they wanted. I tried my hardest to move on with my life but it will always stick with me…”
The youngster said some days she can’t leave her bed or eat, adding: “I feel dirty and no matter how many times I bath or shower or scrub myself I just don’t feel clean.
“I feel uncomfortable in my clothes, I’ve fallen out of love with my body and who I am. I thought of self harm and suicide, I felt powerless and out of control.”
She said since Vigus and Ellis-Evans were found guilty of rape, she has lived in survival mode, constantly second-guessing herself.
The young woman said: “I wear a mask, hiding my true feelings. I struggle with sleep, reliving that night and I feel disgusted with my body. I am hoping to rebuild my life and make my parents proud.”
In mitigation, John Ryan, representing Ellis-Evans, said his client was remorseful and had shown contrition. Martha Smith-Higgins, for Vigus, said her client has stopped drinking and has lost five stone in weight. She is also considered a “low risk of reoffending”.
Sentencing, Judge Lucy Crowther said: “You both violated her in an intimate way, both emotionally and physically… She was a particularly vulnerable woman.”
Ellis-Evans and Vigus were sentenced to eight years and three months imprisonment each, of which they will serve two thirds of before they are released on licence.
The defendants were made subject to sex offender notification requirements for life and a restraining order indefinitely.
DC Jessica Pritchard from South Wales Police said after the hearing that the youngster showed remarkable strength and resilience throughout the investigation and during her time in court, where she provided compelling evidence to the jury.
Ms Pritchard described the youngster as determined and courageous, adding of the sentences: “I hope this brings her some sense of peace as she begins to rebuild her life.”
Sexual violence or abuse is always the fault of the perpetrator. No matter when, where or how it happened, you can call Rape Crisis England and Wales free on 0808 500 2222.
