The brave victim of a sexual assault has spoken of her ‘pity’ for the man jailed for attacking her in her own home.ย Daniela Vinci, ofย Slough, Berks, UK waived her legal right to anonymity to speak out about the crime, after facing up to Joseph Mwaura, 19, in court to give the evidence that brought him to justice.
She was assaulted on April 24 this year, awaking to find Mwaura crouching beside her bed. Mwaura, of Hartland Close, punched the 40-year-old in the face and used a large knife to threaten her before she managed to fight him off and raise the alarm. He was jailed for seven years and four months at a hearing at Reading Crown Court on Friday, December 6.
Speaking to the Express on Wednesday, Daniela said: “I am relieved that he has been imprisoned, he can’t do it to anybody else. I don’t feel that he showed any remorse. “I pity him more than anything, the fact that someone so young is capable of doing what he did is terrible and I feel sorry for his mother.” The air hostess is attending counselling sessions after having nightmares about the attack, but said she is determined to move on with her life.
“Seeing him sentenced was like going through the motions and it was just the next step,” she said. “I keep thinking about what could have happened to me because I managed to fight him off but someone else may not have been able to do that. “That’s what I keep struggling with, but I am lucky to have my friends and family supporting me.” She praised Judge Angela Morris, who sentenced Mwaura, as well as her police liason officer, who has since asked Daniela to give presentations to victims of similar crimes who are also facing the court process.
Daniela will also be volunteering for Berkshire East and South Bucks Women’s Aid. She is determined to see that ‘out of bad comes good’. Two days before the attack, Mwaura had burgled Daniela’s home while she was asleep and stole mobile phones, a laptop, and a credit card. This was reported to police shortly afterwards. She was assaulted on April 24 this year, awaking to find Mwaura crouching beside her bed. Mwaura, of Hartland Close, punched the 40-year-old in the face and used a large knife to threaten her before she managed to fight him off and raise the alarm.
Mwaura, a complete stranger to his victim, was arrested on April 28. His fingerprints were found at the address and he was positively identified by Daniela. He was later convicted of one count of trespassing with intent to commit rape, one count of sexual assault, one count of burglary, one count of ABH and one count of possessing cannabis. DC Jay Knewell, investigating officer, said: “I would like to praise the victim who has shown courage and determination throughout the police and court proceedings. “The evidence she presented at court was given in open view of the offender, demonstrating her will to get justice and to prove to Mwaura that despite what he had done she would not be intimidated by him.” Victims of sexual assault are automatically granted lifelong anonimity under the law, but can waive the right if they choose.
Source-standardmedia.co.ke
Kenyan Man Jailed for 7 Years in UK for Assault
Kenyan Man Jailed for 7 Years in UK for Assault
