Life sentence for Taunton man
Elias Arberry, of Moorland Road, was sentenced today (Friday 14 October) at Taunton Crown Court to a life sentence. He will serve a minimum term of 15 and a half years in prison.
Arberry pleaded guilty to seven offences. These included four counts of rape, two of sexual assault and one of wounding with intent. The Taunton resident violently assaulted his victim inflicting serious injuries before raping her in May this year. She cannot be named for legal reasons. The victim managed to raise the alarm when Arberry fell asleep and she escaped.
Officers conducted a 26-hour search for the defendant, until he was found at a hotel in Weston-super-Mare. Along with his conviction, he will be a registered sex offender for life. The victim has also been granted a life-time restraining order against Arberry.
In an impact statement, the victim said: “At my age, most people are thinking about finding a partner to share their life with and settling down. However, I also feel that opportunity has been taken away from me. I am extremely angry about what he did to me. It has impacted literally every aspect of my life and takes up most of my thoughts throughout the day, every day and then at night as well – I cannot get away from it. I feel I have really only scratched the surface of how this has affected me and how it will affect me probably for the rest of my life.”
Victims of rape or sexual assault, recent or non-recent, can self-refer to The Bridge, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre available 24/7 365 days a year. Visit their website at www.thebridgecanhelp.org.uk or call 0117 342 6999.