Mother's eight-year fight for justice to see rapist behind bars

A mother, whose identity is protected by law, has described her experience with the criminal justice system as leaving her "unheard and ignored" after waiting more than eight years for her rapist to be convicted. She first reported the assault in 2017, and following a prolonged series of errors and delays by police, prosecutors, and the courts, her attacker has now been sentenced.

Allan Peyton, 45, received a five-year prison sentence at Worcester Crown Court after being found guilty of rape and assault by penetration.

The victim, a mother of two, said her "long fight for justice" made her feel "hopeless and abandoned" over the years. The court heard that Peyton broke into her home in the early hours of 7 May 2017 and assaulted her while intoxicated. She contacted West Mercia Police the next day to report the attack.

However, the case experienced numerous setbacks: an inadequate police investigation, an initial decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to charge due to insufficient evidence, subsequent reconsideration, and delays caused by court backlogs. As a result, Peyton was not convicted until July of this year.

The Crown Prosecution Service acknowledged the serious impact delays have on victims and emphasized its commitment to improving processes by collaborating closely with police to strengthen cases from the beginning. They have recently introduced a new strategy focused on combating violence against women and girls.

Ch Supt Edd Williams of West Mercia Police commented: "We strive for high standards in investigations and victim support. If anyone feels we have fallen short, we encourage them to use our complaints process so we can learn and improve. We hope today's sentencing brings some measure of closure."

Author: Caleb Jennings