What he did to me will never go from my head ...I still have nightmares
AS RAPIST IS JAILED, VICTIM BRAVELY SPEAKS ABOUT ORDEAL – AND REVEALS HOW SHE TRIED TO THROW HERSELF FROM MOVING CAR TO ESCAPE HER ATTACKER
A TERRIFIED mum tried to throw herself from a moving car to escape a rapist.
Gerald Smith was locked up for 10 years this week after he was convicted of rape, assault and sexual assault by two juries.
Now one of his victims has spoken out about how she was subjected to a horrific ordeal.
Former pub landlord Smith sexually assaulted a schoolgirl after taking her to a secluded spot on an industrial estate.
And in another shocking attack, the man raped an adult woman who refused to have sex with him.
With his hands held around her throat, Smith’s victim wept throughout the horrific ordeal – but she has now found the strength to speak out to condemn evil Smith in a bid to encourage other rape victims to come forward.
The brave victim, who was forced to give evidence against her attacker at Manchester Crown Court, revealed how she was nearly driven to the brink of suicide following her ordeal.
“It took three years for the investigation to get to court and for all that time he has been on bail,” she said.
“He has been living in the same city as me and it’s just been horrendous.
“But to be honest, it doesn’t matter how long he got. It will never go from my head what he did to me. I still have nightmares.
“It’s hard to have a normal life. I’m a very long way from it, I’m at the beginning really but it’s a start.”
She described the terror she felt when she was attacked by ‘disgusting’ Smith – and revealed how she even threw herself from a moving vehicle in a bid to escape him.
“I was hiding from him and my heart was beating so hard I thought he could hear it,” she said.
The court heard how Smith also threw a glass bottle at his victim, leaving her unconscious.
Reliving her ordeal, she revealed to the M.E.N. that she found a footprint in her flesh and she even tried to take her own life following the brutal rape.
“I was broken,” she said. “I was in a pile on the floor.
“I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder because of what had happened.”
The victim eventually told her doctor about the attack and police launched an investigation which led to Smith’s conviction. The mum says her experiences have affected her ability to form new relationships as she struggles to trust people. “I can’t relax on my own at home,” she said.
“If the phone rings my heart starts racing.
“I can’t even be a passenger in a car because it reminds me of that day.”
However she insists that any victims of sexual abuse and violence should report it to police. She said: “I am pleased with the sentence. He took away years of my life from me.
“He can’t appeal for five years which gives me some time to move far away from here. “I need a fresh start. “It’s not been easy for me but it is doable so I would encourage anyone who has been through it to report it.”
Smith, of New Moss Road, Cadishead, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a schoolgirl by a jury last year.
He also stood trial and was convicted of rape and assault against the adult woman, who has bravely spoken out.
He continues to deny the offences after his conviction by juries following two trials at Manchester Crown Court.
The 61-year-old was this week sentenced to eight years in prison for rape and two years in prison for indecent assault, which will run consecutively to make a total of 10 years.
If the phone rings my heart starts racing. I can’t even be in a car because it reminds me of that day Rape victim