Description
A man has been jailed after a vicious attack on a woman in Bagshot in January.
39-year-old Craig Grace will spend the next 14 years behind bars after being found guilty of rape.
At the end of January, Grace attacked a woman known to him with a knife. He stabbed her in the hand and raped her, threatening to kill her if she tried to run.
The victim was eventually able to flee and reported the assault to police. Grace was arrested, charged, and remanded within 24 hours of the 999 call. At court he refused to take the stand, and following trial was convicted of:
- Two counts of rape
- One count of sexual assault
- One count of serious assault (GBH)
- One count of assault (ABH)
- Threats to kill
On Tuesday, 29 September, Grace (17/03/1987), of Bagshot, was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment at Guildford Crown Court. He will also be subject to a lifetime restraining order against the victim.
The victim lives with permanent reminders, both physical and emotional, of the attack. “I have a scar on my hand as a result of the injuries I sustained that night. Every time I see it, I am reminded of the violence I endured and the trauma I continue to live with.”
She does not shy away from saying that:
“The events of that night were horrific and have fundamentally changed who I am” but remains defiant and hopeful for the future. “I refuse to be defined solely by what was done to me. Instead, I choose to be defined by my courage, resilience, determination, and strength.”
Investigating officer DC Antonia Corbu said:
“I would like to pay tribute to the courage and resilience of the victim throughout this investigation. I hope that the sentence imposed will go some way to helping provide with the closure needed to rebuild her life.
“Within 24 hours of the 999 call reporting this horrific attack, Craig Grace had been charged and remanded and has not walked free since. I am grateful for the hard work from police officers across departments and forces that made this possible.
“After the attack Grace fled to Wiltshire, where he was swiftly located and arrested by our colleagues from Wiltshire Police. The first attending officers to the scene in Bagshot treated the victim with compassion and respect and helped secure vital evidence, and the investigating team worked flat out to bring charges against Grace and ensure he was held accountable for his crimes.”