'I want the man who raped me to be taught a lesson' - South Yorkshire victim's brave message to attacker jailed for life

Sheffield Crown Court heard on April 22 how Joshua Evans, 22, of Lady Oak Road, East Herringthorpe, Rotherham, had been staying overnight at the victim’s property when he committed the horrific crime.

Judge Roger Thomas QC told Evans: “She fell asleep on the settee having watched television and she woke to find her clothing disturbed and you raping her.”

He added: “She came around and woke up and was terrified by what was going on and went upstairs to the bedroom where her partner was and you followed her into the bedroom.”Gordon Stables, prosecuting, said Evans also attacked her son by punching him repeatedly in the face and knocking him to the floor and kicking him.

Evans, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to rape and to assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the incident in July.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, stated the rape has affected her badly and she struggles to sleep because she is scared it will happen again and she does not go out because she fears people will stare.

She added: “I want the male who raped me to be taught a lesson to stop him doing the same to other women.

“This incident has caused me to suffer long-term mental health issues from which I may never recover.”

Edward Moss, defending, said Evans has the mental age of a child after suffering a brain injury when he was a boy and he has had a troubled life and needs help.

Judge Thomas imposed a formal sentence of life imprisonment on Evans after considering his previous convictions, his sexual behaviour and lack of remorse.

He added that Evans must serve a minimum of four-and-a-half years of custody before he can be considered for release by the parole board.

Evans was placed indefinitely on the Sex Offenders’ Register and also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.