Two women have waived their right to anonymity and encouraged other victims and survivors of rape to seek support.
From Gloucestershire Constabulary:
The man who raped them, 23-year-old Michael Brown was jailed for two counts of rape after he admitted the offences against two former partners.
Following the sentencing, both Chelsea McPherson and Rio Wager waived their right to lifelong anonymity.
Chelsea, aged 22, said: “Michael, coming forward about what you did to me was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t do it for me. I did it to make sure that you would never hurt anyone again. I only wish I came forward earlier.”
Rio, also aged 22, said: “Knowing I was doing the right thing I still felt scared having to talk to the police, but I knew I had to speak out as I could not let him continue to affect me or anyone else and to get away with this. I needed to have some kind of justice.”
Brown, of Foundry Rise, Dursley had been in a relationship with one of the women for around a month when he raped her. He took her to a location near his address, and encouraged her to smoke cannabis, which made her feel unwell. Brown ignored her when she told him no, withdrawing any consent, and he raped her.
She visited a Sexual Assault Referral Centre and later chose to support a prosecution. The woman then took part in a video interview with police.
In a separate occasion, Brown had been having consensual sex with another woman he was in a relationship with when she began to feel uncomfortable and repeatedly asked him to stop. He ignored her and then continued to rape her.
The woman reported the incident to a PCSO a couple of weeks later, and she did a video interview with police.
Brown was arrested and interviewed in relation to both offences of rape, which happened in 2021. In police interview he said there had been consensual sex with one of the women, and that he had no recollection of the second incident.
Following an investigation by the Constabulary’s Criminal Investigation Department, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges.
Brown pleaded guilty the day before Chelsea was due to provide evidence to the court in a video-recorded cross examination hearing on 14 April this year.
On 14 May Judge Rupert Lowe sentenced Brown to four years in prison, and due to his guilty plea, this was reduced to three years and two months. Brown was told he must serve at least 19 months and he was given a 12-year-restraining order not to contact either Chelsea or Rio.
Both women, along with the investigating officer and their support advocates, wrote to the Attorney General’s Office to request the sentence be referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. However, this was not successful.
After the sentencing, Rio said she wanted to waive her anonymity as she felt she should not have to hide due to someone else’s actions.
She said: “For a week I sat there and thought what has just happened to me, who do I tell as this will make it even more real. I had to gain the courage to speak out and eventually I managed to talk to the woman that I was staying with at the time.
“Knowing I was doing the right thing I still felt scared having to talk to the police, but I knew I had to speak out as I could not let him continue to affect me or anyone else and to get away with this. I needed to have some kind of justice.
“I find it difficult to describe my anxiety as this makes me feel low, vulnerable, and fearful. I’m unable to sleep at night due to the nightmares, flashbacks and triggers; leaving me with the trauma of reliving the events every day of my life.
“I would say to anyone who wants to report something to be mindful that the sentence might not turn out how you would hope, but that shouldn’t stop you from reporting. If you report, you can also stop it from happening to someone else and that is one step closer to protecting others.
“I wanted to waive my anonymity as I did nothing wrong. I should not have to hide, and other victims and survivors should not have to hide either. Remember it is not your fault, nothing is your fault, and you do not have to hide away.”
After the sentencing, Chelsea said she came forward and reported what Brown had done to her as she did not want him to hurt anyone else.
Chelsea said: “Michael, coming forward about what you did to me was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t do it for me. I did it to make sure that you would never hurt anyone again. I only wish I came forward earlier.
“I don’t care for your apologies, if you are even remorseful. The damage is done.
“Although I feel the outcome didn’t fit the crime, I’m still glad I came forward, as you are now in prison and will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, preventing you from causing further harm.
“I would encourage anyone who has been subjected to sexual violence to please seek support, whether that’s by reporting it to the police or an organisation who can provide you with support.”
Chelsea also described the impact that Brown’s actions have had on her life.
She said: “What has happened to me has destroyed my life, my family, my soul, my mental health.
“I began drinking heavily daily, staying out late, self-harming, trying to kill myself. I then thought I could go on with my life. I got a job, a car, starting attending college, socialising, hadn’t self-harmed or attempted suicide for just under a year, however after time the trauma of what you did to me caught up to me.
“What happened to me has affected my whole outlook on men. I walk up a street and I’m paranoid someone will rape me. If I’m left alone with a male I’m scared they will rape me and I’m looking for some way out. Four years later, I still get nightmares and flashbacks, have suicidal thoughts and engage in self-harm behaviours because of what you did to me. The fact you couldn’t even look at me in court speaks volumes.”
Detective Sergeant Gareth Morgan said: “Brown’s actions have had an immeasurable impact on the women in this case. I would like to thank them for supporting a prosecution which means Brown is now a Registered Sex Offender, and on his release from prison, he will be monitored by the police.
“Both of the women told Brown to stop and he ignored their pleas and then raped them – consent must be freely given, without coercion, manipulation, or pressure, and it can be withdrawn at any stage.
“In both of these cases reports were made to the police either in the weeks or months afterwards, and therefore this shows that no matter when someone has sexually assaulted you, police can and will still investigate these crimes and put rapists and other offenders before the courts.”
In mitigation, Brown’s defence barrister told the court that he was vulnerable, had a difficult background and that he was immature.
Police have specially trained officers who can investigate these type of offences.
To report a rape or other sexual offences call 999 in an emergency, or report by calling 101 or online here: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/
First Light provides support for all victims and survivors of sexual violence, for more information visit: https://www.firstlight.org.uk/
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them. It is often called ‘Clare’s Law’ after the landmark case that led to it.
This scheme also allows a member of the public to make an enquiry into the partner of a close friend or family member. For more information on this visit: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/alpha2/request-information-under-clares-law/
