'I didn't want anyone to touch my child after being raped'

Aaron Mason's victim woke to find her jeans and underwear had been pulled down

A rape survivor says she wants her life back after the attack shattered her confidence and affected her bonding with her child.

The woman, who is in her 20s, was unaware she was pregnant when she was assaulted by Aaron Mason after a night out in Leicester.

After going to sleep in separate beds, the victim woke in the early hours to discover him next to her, while her underwear had been pulled down.

Mason, 23, was jailed for five years.

Appearing at Leicester Crown Court on Monday, he was sentenced after being found guilty of one count of rape following a trial in January.

Mason, of Cranstone Crescent, Leicester, was also added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Mason was jailed on Monday

Following the sentencing, his victim has chosen to speak out but under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, she has a right to anonymity.

"Since I was assaulted by Aaron Mason my life has never been the same," she said.

"On the date I was raped I was unaware I was pregnant - this was confirmed a couple of days later. Although I knew my son was not fathered by the defendant, it made me feel distant from my growing child. The rape affected how I felt about the whole pregnancy."

She and Mason went on a night out with mutual friends in May 2019, police said.

It was while the victim and the defendant were staying at the same location in the West Leicester area that the offence occurred.

When challenged by the victim and others at the address, Mason offered no explanation or account for his actions.

It was not until police got involved that it was established a serious sexual offence had taken place, leading to Mason being charged in 2020.

'Get my life back'

The victim added: "Over the last four years I have struggled profoundly. When my son was born I felt guilty and became very protective of him. I didn't want anyone to touch him. I was in a very low place.

"I frequently have bad dreams about what happened to me on that dreadful night and I still find it hard to trust any men in my life. I had a lot of male friends who I no longer have anything to do with and this is through no fault of their own but because of what happened to me.

"I hope that one day I will be able to get my life back and be the confident, outgoing person I used to be before this happened to me. I want to feel safe again."

The victim has also received support from independent support services in Leicester, including an independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) working for Freeva, which supports victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

Det Con Anna Pulsford, the officer in this case, added: "The courage and strength the victim has shown since throughout has been truly commendable and while today's sentencing will not take away the pain or the memories of what happened, I hope it will enable her to start to move forward.

"I would also like to acknowledge the incredible support given to the victim by her ISVA - she has consistently been in contact with the victim and attended meetings and court dates with her when needed."

Caroline Beckett, sexual violence services manager at Freeva, said: "Freeva is the commissioned pathway for victims of both sexual and domestic violence in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. With cases taking time to reach court the ISVA is able to be a constant through the journey from reporting abuse to court and beyond."