Archive - Thursday, 20 September 2001


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Jail for Dinas rapist

A DINAS Powys housewife who was raped in her own bed has seen her young attacker jailed for eight years.

Aaron Gaughan, aged 21, left the 51-year-old woman feeling "dirty, degraded and humiliated" following the attack on August 14.

At Cardiff Crown Court last Tuesday Gaughan, who has a string of 93 previous offences, admitted rape and burglary.

He had been in prison until four days before the attack for assaulting a police officer.

The victim, whose husband and daughter had just left for work, was faced by Gaughan in her bedroom after taking a bath.

She told police: "I knew from the look on his face what was going to happen. I tried to get away but couldn't - I thought he was capable of killing me."

She said during the rape Gaughan forced his face down onto his victim with an "evil" look in his eyes and said: "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Afterwards Gaughan forced his victim to have another bath to wash away any evidence.

He then helped himself to lemonade from the woman's fridge before fleeing.

Prosecutor Catrin Evans said: "She feels dirty, degraded and humiliated. She can no longer use the bath and has to have someone with her when she uses the shower.

"She was happily married but now sleeps in separate beds from her husband and has severe flashbacks."

Following the attack Gaughan, who is unemployed, went to his mother's Tenby home where he confessed and gave himself up to police.

He said he had smoked cannabis and heroin, and taken amphetamines after being released and had gone into the house to steal jewellery. He "vaguely remembered" having sexual intercourse with the woman.

Peter Davies, defending, said: "It must be some comfort to the victim, knowing the perpetrator is no longer at large.

"He is disgusted with himself and in a state of complete emotional devastation. The ghost of these proceedings will follow him forever."

Judge Peter Jacobs said Gaughan's offence was "terrifying", adding: "This lady was happily married to her husband and she was petrified.

"You were obviously in a highly charged state, clenching your teeth, and quite clearly you were capable of killing her.

"For all she knew she could have been drowned. Your record is an appalling one."

Judge Jacobs ordered Gaughan to register as a sex offender for life. Gaughan grinned as he left the dock.