2 days ago
Rape victim took her own life after her family inadvertently took her on a walk past her attacker's home
A 'completely broken' rape victim took her own life after her family inadvertently took her on a walk past her attacker's home.
Ryan Callaghan, 33, horrifically assaulted the vulnerable women and lived on the coastal path the group had coincidentally decided to walk.
The victim called a relative to take her home and, shortly afterwards, she took her own life.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that in a note she left for her mother, it was 'absolutely clear the rape of her by the defendant was one of the factors which was forefront in her mind'.
The victim's mother said: 'There are no words to describe what we've all been through.
'Callaghan's vile act on our daughter was a major factor in her taking her own life. She just couldn't cope with it.
'He betrayed her trust and he left my daughter completely broken by his actions. We are serving a life sentence in the knowledge of what he did.
'She was in crisis at the time she was raped. He was fully aware of that but he didn't care about that or how his actions would add to her trauma.
'He showed no remorse for what he did and no sadness at all for the loss of her life.'
The mother said that on the day the victim took her own life, the family had been on a walk to the beach.
She said: 'Unknown to us, the route we took took us directly past Callaghan's house.
'Her mood became extremely low. Walking past Callaghan's house tipped her over the edge.
'It was months later we found out where he lived and that day will haunt us forever.
'It's was a shame the jury and everyone in the case didn't get to see the (woman) we all loved. She was loved so much by all who knew her and had so many friends.
'What Callaghan did has been devastating for us all. The pain felt by us, including her little boy, is immeasurable.
'In the note she left behind she asked that her son knows how much she was loved. We will spend the rest of our days making sure he knows that.'
Prosecutor Jon Harley said the victim had recently been released from hospital after self-harming and was 'extremely vulnerable'.
Mr Harley said: 'There were undoubtedly many contributing factors to her decision to take her own life but it's absolutely clear the rape of her by the defendant was one of the factors which was forefront in her mind. It features prominently in the note she left behind for her mother to find.'
Callaghan, of Mowbray Road, South Shields, who has two previous convictions for common assault, was found guilty by a jury of rape.
Jane Foley, defending, said: 'He does not accept the decision of the jury but he knows, as things stand, he must do so.
'It's obviously devastating (she) took her own life. She was vulnerable due to a number of factors.' Miss Foley said she was vulnerable due to mental health issues and had self-harmed previously.
She added: 'He was not charged with manslaughter, he was charged with rape.'
Miss Foley said Callaghan has two young children and it is his first taste of custody.
She added: 'There's a very different side and a positive side to this defendant.'
Callaghan's sentencing hearing was adjourned until next week, when he will learn his fate.
