A woman who was attacked and raped at a property in Derby has spoken of how the attack has changed her in a victim statement read out during the trial of her attacker at Derby Crown Court.
Cory Thompson denied the rape and also a separate charge of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Ilkeston. But he was found guilty of both charges and was jailed for nine years and three months.
The court was told that Thompson sexually assaulted the teenager in a car in Ilkeston in July 2021. Later that day he began sending her threatening and harassing messages and also went to a property she was at and began banging on the door. On a separate occasion in March 2022, Thompson attacked a woman at a property in Derby. After becoming aggressive to her, he pinned her down and raped her.
In the victim impact statement, the woman said: “Before this incident happened to me I was a confident, trusting and outgoing person.
“Now the slightest movement or noise scares me. I am hyper vigilant and I feel like I am constantly in a state of fight or flight. I would now say that I am extremely anxious and feel like a nervous wreck. I feel like I am just in survival mode currently and I am not actually living my life.”
Thompson was arrested in connection with both incidents and subsequently charged with rape and sexual assault.
The 29-year-old, of Abbeydale Road, Sheffield, was also charged with two counts of sexual assaults against further victims but the jury could not reach a decision and the matters were ordered to lie on file. He was also found not guilty of other charges of sexual assault and putting a person in fear of violence by harassment.
As well as being jailed, Thompson was handed restraining orders preventing him from having any contact with all of the women involved.
Detective Sergeant Sarah Parkin, who led the investigation, said: “I’d like to praise the bravery of the victims in this case. Their courage and strength has been exemplary and I am really grateful to them for their support during the court process.
“Thompson is clearly a very dangerous sexual predator. I have no doubt that he would have continued to offend had he not been sent to prison. Thanks to the bravery of these women he is now behind bars where he belongs.”
If you or someone you know has been the victim of rape, sexual assault or another sexual offence please reach out for help and support.
There is a Rape and Sexual Assault reporting tool on Derbyshire police’s website. Here you can report something that’s happened to you, or to someone else. To access it visit: https://www.derbyshire.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/
You can report anonymously, without giving your details. Alternatively, you can contact police using the following methods:
- Facebook – send a private message to the Derbyshire Constabulary Facebook page
- Twitter – direct message the contact centre via @DerPolContact
- Phone – call on 101
If you have been affected by a similar crime, whether recent or non-recent, and would like some support you can contact SV2 – a Derbyshire-based organisation, which support victims of sexual violence.
You can contact them online www.sv2.org.uk or via their advice line 01773 746 115 (open 8am – 5pm) regardless of whether you wish to report an incident to police.