Brave rape victim praised for her courage in helping to convict Leeds businessman
Woman tells court she has “lost desire to enjoy life”
A woman who helped convict her rapist by giving evidence in court has been praised by a judger for her bravery.
Property company owner Evalds Saksons was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week having been found guilty of rape and assault by penetration after a trial.
He was jailed for 13 years and put on the sex offender register for life.
The judge, Recorder Keir Monteith KC described him as a “dangerous man”, and was quick to commend his victim.
He said she showed “courage and resilience” to stand up in court and give evidence against the 32-year-old.
He said: “It was clearly a traumatic and difficult thing to do. I saw it and understand it and justice has now been done by an attentive jury.”
The court heard that Saksons had physically overpowered the woman, who felt “overwhelmed”.
Further details cannot be disclosed to protect her identity, having received automatic lifelong anonymity.
In a victim impact statement, read out to the court by prosecutor Katherine Robinson, the woman said she suffered from “indescribable shame”, that she had “lost the desire to enjoy life”, had “enormous hatred towards herself” and was left “broken and withdrawn”.
Saksons, who appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds where he was being held on remand, showed little emotion throughout the hearing.
Mitigating, Benjamin Bell said Saksons, of Lea Park Grove, Belle Isle, was a Latvian national who was a hard worker and employed people for the property firm he set up in 2019.
He pointed out that Saksons was of previous good character with no previous convictions.
Recorder Monteith told Saksons he must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole.