Fury as rapist’s appeal is heard before victim’s
Woman’s attacker ‘still controlling her life’
PROSECUTORS have told a woman who was raped hundreds of times as a child they will appeal her attacker’s sentence – but only after his appeal against his conviction has been heard.
Evil John Barbour, 52, was jailed for four years by Lord Ericht after a jury convicted him of repeatedly raping her between the ages of four and seven, starting when he was 19, and the sexual assault of another girl.
Last night the woman, who shared her harrowing story in the Record last month, said she was relieved the Crown are pushing for a longer sentence but was angry that his rights came before hers.
The woman, 38, was first raped by Barbour, who was a lodger in her mum’s home, on the night before she started school.
She said: “I’m glad about the appeal against his sentence but gutted that he can appeal his conviction.
“It makes me feel sick that he can challenge his conviction before we get the chance to get proper justice.
“The justice system is saying he’s more important than us. It’s all about his rights.
“He ruined my life and even now, when he is finally inside, he is still affecting and controlling my life.”
The mum of three, from Aberdeen, told us previously: “He raped me almost daily from when I was four. I’m the one with a life sentence.”
She told the Record she suffers clinical depression, severe anxiety, panic attacks and now only leaves home for medical appointments.
In their letter to the victim, the Crown explained that their decision to appeal will be subject to review once they have received a report from the trial judge.