'I felt violated' victim of North Shields taxi driving rapist Adam Cornfoot speaks out Cornfoot's victim has broken her silence to tell of her ordeal and give other women the courage to speak out about sex attacks
A rape victim brutally assaulted by a taxi driving sex predator today revealed her nightmare as she faced her attacker in court.
Adam Jamie Cornfoot is starting a five year prison sentence after raping his victim and ruining her life.
And now the woman he preyed on has spoken out about the incident that changed her life forever.
At Newcastle Crown Court Cornfoot, of North Shields, was found guilty of rape. He was handed a five year prison sentence and was given a restraining order and was placed indefinitely on the sex offenders’ register.
The sex fiend cab driver met his victim when he picked her up as a fare. They struck up a friendship but months later the 31-year-old turned nasty and raped her in her own home.
Today the single mum has broken her silence to give other women the courage to speak out who have been through similar ordeals as her.
And she says being brave in court and facing her attacker means she can move on with her life.
From her Newcastle home she said: “After the rape I asked myself ‘has this really happened?’ I was numb and in disbelief. I felt violated, dirty, I felt he took something off me that I couldn’t get back. He makes my skin crawl.”
The victim, who is in her 30s, felt so ashamed that she kept her secret for months before telling the police.
“I didn’t tell anyone for four months,” she added. “It was killing me, it was eating me up inside. I couldn’t tell anyone, it was awful. I started looking for groups for counselling because I wasn’t coping with it. But eventually I thought I had to tell the police, I just needed to tell someone.”
Cornfoot’s victim has been praised by officers dealing with he case for her bravery in bringing her attacker to court.
The woman added: “To see him in court was hard. I listened to him trying to defend himself but he couldn’t. I went into the court room with no special measures. When the usher took me to the court, she was dressed in black and I felt she was like the Grim Reaper taking me to my death.
“When I was on the stand I was scared to look at him but I was very sad. I was sad when I was being questioned by my barrister as he touched on my emotions but when his barrister was asking me questions I became brave and found an inner strength.
“He got five years but it was never about what sentence he got, it was about getting the truth. He should not be able to hurt another woman like he hurt me. He has been locked behind bars and put on the sex offenders’ register and given a permanent restraining order against me.
“He used his position as a taxi and coach driver to meet women. He was a sexual predator who had to be stopped. By me speaking up I can prevent this from happening again. I don’t want anyone else to go through this and I want to give other women the bravery to speak up and save others. If I can stand in court and do it, then anyone can. I want to give other women courage to tell someone they have been raped.
“He has destroyed my life. I will never be the same person I was. He has destroyed my family’s life as it was so horrendous to have to tell my family who always want to defend me.
“But knowing he is in prison means I don’t have to keep looking over my shoulder, thinking am I going to see him again. I feel I am starting to get a little bit of me back. I will never be the same but it is peace of mind that he is locked up. It was about standing up and being believed and the police were lovely. They made me feel safe and they helped me move into another house because he knew where I lived. Now he is behind bars I can move on.”
Detective Constable Warren Cooper, who was the officer in charge of the case, said: “We hope following this court outcome the victim can now move on without fear in her life. I am proud of the bravery the victim has shown throughout this difficult case including facing her abuser in open court. The police and other support agencies are committed to providing support to victims of rape and hope this sentence will help others have the courage and confidence to come forward and report sexual offences to police, a partner agency or someone they trust. You will be believed.”
source:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... h-11588261
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