A Swindon woman says she has regained her freedom after her former partner was jailed for a series of serious offences, including rape.
Kane Walker was convicted of rape, sexual assault and controlling and coercive behaviour following a jury trial last month. He also admitted possessing extreme pornography.
The 21-year-old, formerly of County Road, was sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison at Bristol Crown Court yesterday (19 November).
In a Victim Personal Statement, released with her consent, the survivor described how life has changed since Walker was removed from her life.
She said: “I feel safer that he isn’t here – knowing he will be behind bars, I feel free to go and do what I please.
“I believe if he wasn’t locked up I would be paranoid, always checking over my shoulder and I would be so scared about what he may do.”
She said she is now planning for the future and feels able to make her own choices again.
Adding: “I am looking into an apprenticeship, something I believe I wouldn’t be doing if I was still with Kane.
“I now wear what I want, dress how I want and do what I want, I have freedom and a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
“My relationship with my family is so much better and I am in a happy place with him, they didn’t know the full extent of what I was going through, until the court case was over.”
Police began investigating on 6 March last year after the victim reported that Walker had raped her and subjected her to ongoing coercive and controlling behaviour.
Officers found he had secretly tracked her movements, including by placing an Airtag in her bag and activating her live location without her knowledge. He also dictated what she was allowed to wear and who she could see.
Walker was arrested and interviewed the next day. But two days later, while on bail, he tried to pressure her into dropping the case.
He then set fire to a BMW belonging to one of her relatives, an act police described as an escalation of his attempts to intimidate her.
He was charged with arson and witness intimidation and was jailed for those offences in November last year.
Following a detailed investigation by Wiltshire Police CID, Walker was later charged with further offences relating to the victim and has now been sentenced.
Wiltshire Police’s Major Crime Investigator Catherine Baird said: “There were many aggravating factors in this case, which contributed to the sentence.
“The victim was scared of Walker and as a result was subjected to assaults of a sexual nature due to the fear of violence that he imposed on her.
“One way that consent cannot be freely given is if a person fears that if they say no then violence will be used against them.
“Digital evidence was paramount in this investigation – Walker liked to film his offences, him throwing objects at her, following her and being extremely verbally abusive.
“Internet search history also showed an obsession with harmful sexual content. It was clear Walker thrived on controlling and humiliating his ex-partner.
“The victim feared she could not leave this relationship and felt trapped and her fears were confirmed, for when she finally did, he set a family member’s car on fire.
“This young woman admirably came to the police and trusted us to investigate the offences that were alleged.
“She stood on the stand, knowing the jury, strangers she had never seen before, had seen digital private material of her, which she would have imagined no one would ever see.
“I cannot comprehend how difficult this must have been for her and I, and so many others, should applaud this bravery.
“Justice has been served because of her bravery. She stood up against evil and has come out feeling free.”
