Man jailed after brave survivor spoke out about being raped as a child

Rajesh Saini, formerly of Watson Street in Derby, is now facing a five-year prison sentence following a trial at Derby Crown Court.

Despite denying the charges, Saini was convicted during a hearing in April and sentenced on Wednesday 25 May.

The 39-year-old was a teenager when he committed the offences, and because of this can only be sentenced according to guidelines which applied at the age he was at that time.

In her victim impact statement, the woman described how the events continued to cause her depression and anxiety. She said: “Going to the police was the hardest thing I have ever, and will ever, do. Thankfully, that was made easier with DC Hayley Beautyman.

“I think about what I went through every day of my life, and I am sure that will never change but at least now I have had the acknowledgment and the justice that I craved.”

Detective Constable Hayley Beautyman, who led the investigation, said: “It takes a great deal of courage for anyone who has been the victim of rape or sexual assault to speak out and report it to police, and I would especially like to commend the bravery shown by this woman for telling officers what had happened to her and for supporting this investigation through to court.

“Saini has now rightly been brought to justice and I hope that this will offer some comfort to the victim, though they will still continue to live with the effects of what happened for the rest of her life.”

“We take allegations of sexual offences seriously and do everything we can to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice. We also work closely with a number of support agencies who provide specialist help to those who need it.”

If you or someone you know has been the victim of rape or sexual assault, please reach out for help and support.

We have a Rape and Sexual Assault reporting tool to our website. Here you can report something that's happened to you, or to someone else. To access it, visit: Report rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences.

You can report anonymously, without giving us your details. We won't judge you; we'll treat you with respect, and we'll always put your health and wellbeing first.

Alternatively, you can contact us using the following methods:

• Facebook – send us a private message to our Facebook page
• Twitter – direct message our contact centre via @DerPolContact
• Phone – call us on 101

You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the CrimeStoppers website.

If you are not ready to talk to the police then you can contact a range of different partner agencies who will provide you with support, advice and medical help.

For information, details on how to report and to find out the support services available in Derbyshire, please click here: Support for rape and sexual assault.