Woman raped by calculating and manipulative York man bravely speaks of ordeal in bid to help others

Fasil Demsash, 47, met the woman at a city centre bar in the autumn of 2018, before taking her to his home in Holgate Road, where he raped her.

The woman went straight to the local police station to report the horrific attack.

Despite conclusive forensic evidence, Demsash denied the offence, doing everything within his power to undermine the woman, forcing her to relive the traumatic experience many times throughout the investigation.

Demsash was today found guilty of rape following a trial at York Crown Court and sentenced to nine years in prison.

Speaking of her ordeal, the woman said: "I didn't just get raped that night, I had my life stolen from me.

"Having to go through reliving it day by day with the police and friends and family was almost too much for me to take, you just want it to go away, but you also need to get justice and stop this happening to anyone else.

"The responsibility and expectation to have to go through the whole process is huge and not easy at all.

"I want to send all my thoughts and love to anyone that has ever been a victim of sexual assault too. You are a survivor, you are so strong and no one can take that away from you."

Detective Constable Alyson Thompson from North Yorkshire Police praised the woman for her bravery.

She said: "She has shown incredible strength and bravery and we hope this sentencing can give her some closure so she can move on with her life."