25 year old Arbri Baja was arrested in May 2021 after the survivor in providing a statement following the incident which had occurred at an address in Epsom in April 2021.
Baja was later charged by postal requisition in May 2022 and found guilty of rape in August 2023 following a trial at Guildford Crown Court.
In September 2024, Baja was sentenced to a section 37 Hospital Order under the Mental Health Act.
However, the Court of Appeal has now overruled the hospital order as being unduly lenient, and sentenced Baja to five years’ imprisonment and three years on extended license.
The survivor of this offence said: “It is simply impossible to describe what I have been through; I’d love to talk about awareness all day, but most won’t read past the first two lines.
“For now, I’d like to say to those who are or have been struggling – stay gentle and kind looking after yourself, never doubt yourself, it may take some years, and it can be scary but the feeling of justice and watching those get what they deserve overrides all.
“My therapist previously told me something that filled me with strength and I hope in sharing, it can do the same to others. They told me ‘To be a Victor, not a Victim’.
“Thank you to everyone who supported me from Surrey Police including the prosecution team and Witness Care, the volunteers, my therapist, family, friends and everyone in my corner. We did it and others are now protected.”
Victim and Witness Care Officer Alice Holloway said: “This decision is a monumental one for the survivor and her family and means she can finally start re-building her life.
“We urge all victims of sexual offences to come forward and report them to us.”
