Alex Hepburn’s rape victim shares her side of story on the horrific incident

Last month, former Worcestershire all-rounder Alex Hepburn was sentenced to a five-year jail term after he was found guilty of raping a sleeping woman. Though he rubbished all the accusations and said that he had consensual sex, the court found him guilty of the heinous crime. The incident took place in April 2017 when the lady had consensual sex with Joe Clarke, Hepburn’s then county teammate.

There were also disrespectful messages exchanged through a Whatsapp group that also included the likes of Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Clarke. After all the commotion surrounding the case, the victim has eventually broken her silence and has vented her anger at Hepburn. The woman said that she hates him for humiliating her during the sex conquest game on social media.

“I will never forgive him. His arrogance is prevalent throughout all of this. I hate him. I hate all that he is. I don’t even think he thought it was rape. Like the judge said he trivialised rape. I’m adamant that he thought I’d be grateful for this,” the 23-year-old was quoted as saying in an exclusive interview to BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire program.

She broke down in tears when asked about whether she found it important to find the reason behind the rape. “I don’t know if it would be easy to accept when I know why? It’s just that why me? It’s really unfair. He will have no idea the effect it has had on me,” she mentioned.

It took months to go back to normal

The woman was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) courtesy due to the attack. To add insult to injury, the incident also put to hold her dreams of becoming a teacher as she pained through the trauma. Doctors said that she had a stress-related condition that temporarily paralyses facial muscles called Bell’s Palsy.

“They said after everything I’d been through my body was shutting down. As the day went on my eye drooped and the side of my face froze. It took months to go back to normal. I had to drink through a straw. It stopped me working. I didn’t want to leave home,” she added.

“He was pawing at my legs, telling me I was beautiful. I remember curling up in the foetal position, not knowing what to do,” she had said after the trial.

A couple of days before the attack, the Western Crown Court heard that Hepburn, Clarke and Tom set up the Whatsapp group called ‘Stat Chat’. In the conversation, the members would reveal the details of sexual encounters with a number of girls and rate their performances in bed.

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