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Alex Hepburn: Rape victim 'humiliated by sexual conquest game' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A woman who was raped by a cricketer while asleep has said she was "humiliated" to find out he had taken part in a sexual conquest "game". | A woman who was raped by a cricketer while asleep has said she was "humiliated" to find out he had taken part in a sexual conquest "game". |
Former Worcestershire player Alex Hepburn was sentenced to five years in prison last month. | Former Worcestershire player Alex Hepburn was sentenced to five years in prison last month. |
He assaulted the victim at his flat in Worcester after she had consensual sex with his then teammate Joe Clarke. | He assaulted the victim at his flat in Worcester after she had consensual sex with his then teammate Joe Clarke. |
The stress has left her with facial paralysis and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). | The stress has left her with facial paralysis and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). |
Hepburn and Mr Clarke had set up a "game" on WhatsApp to see how many women they could have sex with. | Hepburn and Mr Clarke had set up a "game" on WhatsApp to see how many women they could have sex with. |
Hepburn attacked "Sarah" - not her real name - after Mr Clarke had left his bedroom to be sick and passed out in his bathroom. | Hepburn attacked "Sarah" - not her real name - after Mr Clarke had left his bedroom to be sick and passed out in his bathroom. |
On arriving back at the flat, Hepburn found her asleep on a mattress, "saw a chance" and attacked her, his trial heard. | On arriving back at the flat, Hepburn found her asleep on a mattress, "saw a chance" and attacked her, his trial heard. |
'He had sex with me' | 'He had sex with me' |
She realised he was not Mr Clarke only when Hepburn spoke in an Australian accent. | She realised he was not Mr Clarke only when Hepburn spoke in an Australian accent. |
Sarah told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme she remembered finding Mr Clarke after the attack and telling him "again and again and again 'your friend has had sex with me'." | Sarah told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme she remembered finding Mr Clarke after the attack and telling him "again and again and again 'your friend has had sex with me'." |
She then saw Hepburn, before fleeing the flat. | She then saw Hepburn, before fleeing the flat. |
"Once I'd grabbed my clothes, I ran out to the street and stopped a passerby," she said. | "Once I'd grabbed my clothes, I ran out to the street and stopped a passerby," she said. |
"I told her everything that happened and she rang the police." | "I told her everything that happened and she rang the police." |
At the police station, she said, officers "rang my mum". "But I remember thinking that I didn't want people knowing." | At the police station, she said, officers "rang my mum". "But I remember thinking that I didn't want people knowing." |
Sarah said it had been "so humiliating" to later find out, at Hepburn's trial, that she had unwillingly been part of a "game". | Sarah said it had been "so humiliating" to later find out, at Hepburn's trial, that she had unwillingly been part of a "game". |
She believes that Hepburn "got so involved in the competition... he had no idea what he was doing was wrong", and wishes to educate perpetrators that such behaviour constitutes rape. | She believes that Hepburn "got so involved in the competition... he had no idea what he was doing was wrong", and wishes to educate perpetrators that such behaviour constitutes rape. |
During sentencing, Judge Jim Tindal said Hepburn had "arrogantly" believed his victim would consent during the attack. | During sentencing, Judge Jim Tindal said Hepburn had "arrogantly" believed his victim would consent during the attack. |
Sarah agrees, saying she believes that Hepburn "would have thought I was grateful". | Sarah agrees, saying she believes that Hepburn "would have thought I was grateful". |
She said she also struggled to initially "put two and two together" and realise she had been raped and hoped speaking out would inform other victims. | She said she also struggled to initially "put two and two together" and realise she had been raped and hoped speaking out would inform other victims. |
Life 'on hold' | Life 'on hold' |
The stress caused by the rape has led Sarah to develop Bell's palsy, a partial paralysis of the face. | The stress caused by the rape has led Sarah to develop Bell's palsy, a partial paralysis of the face. |
She has also been diagnosed with PTSD and said her life had effectively been placed on hold. | She has also been diagnosed with PTSD and said her life had effectively been placed on hold. |
"I wanted to go travelling when I left university," she said. | "I wanted to go travelling when I left university," she said. |
"I wanted to go on to do a PGCE [Postgraduate Certificate of Education] to be a primary school teacher and I delayed all of that because of the trial." | "I wanted to go on to do a PGCE [Postgraduate Certificate of Education] to be a primary school teacher and I delayed all of that because of the trial." |
Now Hepburn has been convicted, Sarah said she had reached an "epiphany, where I could think about my future again for the first time". | Now Hepburn has been convicted, Sarah said she had reached an "epiphany, where I could think about my future again for the first time". |
Hepburn's barrister, Michelle Heeley QC, said in court that he had expressed "true remorse", adding: "He has lost everything: his career, his good character and ultimately his liberty." | Hepburn's barrister, Michelle Heeley QC, said in court that he had expressed "true remorse", adding: "He has lost everything: his career, his good character and ultimately his liberty." |
But Sarah said the impact the rape had had on her was worse than the time Hepburn would spend in prison. | But Sarah said the impact the rape had had on her was worse than the time Hepburn would spend in prison. |
"He will have no idea the effect it has had on me," she said. | "He will have no idea the effect it has had on me," she said. |
Hepburn is presently seeking to appeal against his conviction. | Hepburn is presently seeking to appeal against his conviction. |
Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. | Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. |