September 2023 Camborne rapist told victim ‘this is going to happen’ A rapist told his victim “this is going to happen” before proceeding to rape her. Jack Downing, 20 now but 18 at the time, told her after “I know what I’ve just done”. Downing, of Aneray Road, Camborne, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to rape on the day of what was meant to be his trial. Downing was jailed for four and a half years and must sign the sex offenders’ register. Prosecuting the case, Nigel Wraith told the court how on the day in question in 2021 Downing returned from his sister’s in Plymouth and got the victim to pick him up from the station. She agreed to go to his house to watch a film but once in the room Downing tried to hug her. The victim said no and that he needed to stop but he took her coat off of her and put it on the floor. She again told him she didn’t want a hug but he started to undress her. Mr Wraith said: “She tried to push him off but he said ‘no, this is going to happen’.” Mr Wraith then described how Downing grabbed her hands and wrist and violently raped her despite her repeatedly saying no. Mr Wraith added: “When it eventually ended he started crying saying I know what I’ve done. She hugged him and told him it was alright. She got dressed and said she was going to go home before going to a friend’s house to tell her what he did to her. She then rang her father and the police.” At the sentencing hearing the victim bravely read a victim impact statement to the court. She spoke of prior to the attack being self-employed, self-assured and head strong and doing well for herself. But after she lost her business due to the effects of the rape, and suffered panic attacks daily. She said her confidence disappeared completely and that when she stepped out of the door she felt as if she was drowning. She also suffered with anger issues brought on by what Downing did. The victim suffers trust issues and hated the body she was in. Although she speaks of in some ways making a recovery, much of what happens still lives with her. She said: “I remain headstrong and refuse to let someone ruin my life.” Sentencing Downing, Judge Robert Linford reiterated that the victim repeatedly said no and told Downing to stop. He spoke about the devastating impact the rape had on the victim, and that Downing’s plea was so late it prolonged the pain for the victim who had braced herself to give evidence at trial. He said: “She was an isolated woman in the property. You could have ended her wait for trial at a much earlier point in time.” Downing was jailed for four and a half years and must sign the sex offenders’ register.