Young woman with Down's syndrome suffered heart-breaking trauma caused by 'depraved' rape

 

Ellahi was convicted last December of raping and sexually assaulting the woman after luring her back to his apartment when she became separated from her mother near their Dublin home.


In her victim impact statement the woman's mother said that following the rape her daughter began sleeping in her bed and would have night terrors. She also began suffering from seizures.
The symptoms abated after a while but returned in the run up to the trial, the mother said. 

"He has robbed our family of the last two and a half years and (the victim) of the future she might have had.
"I feel a great sadness for her and a huge sense of loss."
The mother also read out a statement prepared by the victim which said: "I feel so scared at all times since he did that to me. 

"I feel confused, angry and shocked.
"Sometimes I get flashbacks. 

"I can't go out on my own anymore because I am too scared."
Ellahi, who is originally from Haripur in Pakistan, pleaded not guilty last year to rape, sexual assault and having sex with a mentally impaired person at his Dublin home on June 12, 2013. 

The jury was not required to deliberate on the third count if it convicted of rape.
The court heard he continued to deny the charges and maintained his position that he did not know the woman had Down's syndrome.
He has no previous convictions in this jurisdiction and gardai are unaware of any convictions in his native country.