No sentence will be enough for rape, says victim

A woman has spoken of her ordeal at the hands of an ex-partner who would rape her while she was sleeping.

Kimberley Dyson, 41, said she wanted other victims of sexual abuse to know their experiences are "nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about".

Her former boyfriend Trevor Lockwood, 44, of Barnsley, was jailed for 13 years on Monday after he was convicted of four counts of rape at Sheffield Crown Court.

Ms Dyson, who has waived her right to anonymity as the victim of a sexual offence, said Lockwood would attack her after she had gone to sleep and ignore her pleas to stop when she woke up.

After he was sentenced, Ms Dyson, also from Barnsley, said: "Despite years of feeling deep shame around the abuse I experienced, I am finally learning to accept that none of this was my fault.

"Trevor took so many years of my life, but today I close the chapter on this ordeal and start to live my life as it always should have been."

In 2022, she reported what had happened throughout their relationship, between 2003 to 2014, to South Yorkshire Police.

"The abuse I endured for over a decade at the hands of Trevor Lockwood has impacted almost every area of my life," she said.

"Although no sentence will be enough for the trauma I am left with, I am glad that this case is finally over and that I am able to start my process of healing.

"I want other victims of sexual abuse to see that experiences of sexual harm and abuse are nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about."

Barnsley Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Services provided "vital" support throughout the criminal justice process, she said.

"Without the support and encouragement I received from Jess [an independent advisor at the service], I am not sure how, or if, I could have got this far."

Det Sgt Laura Clarke, who Ms Dyson said "worked tirelessly" on the case, said: "I cannot commend Kimberley's bravery highly enough.

"I want to thank her for her courage throughout our investigation and the subsequent trial, which came about due to Lockwood's refusal to admit his abhorrent offending."

She said South Yorkshire Police was "100% committed" to tackling all forms of sexual abuse in the region and investigates every report it receives.

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