Brave victims of rapist actor Alexander Westwood tell court how he 'ruined their lives'

Westwood, 24, of Holyhead Road, Albrighton, is being sentenced for 26 sexual abuse crimes, including rape, at Wolverhampton Crown Court today (Tuesday, February 25).

In front of a packed public gallery and their former tormenter in the dock, three young women took it in turns to read their victim impact statements to the court. 

Giving each other strength, some held hands offering support to one another.

There were tears in the public gallery, which included further victims whose evidence was not heard during the trial, before the hearing began as Westwood, dressed in a grey suit, smirked in the dock. 

He was transported to court from prison where he has been locked up since breaking his bail conditions two weeks ago.

Seven members of the jury who convicted Westwood on December 10 after a four-week trial returned to court to see him sent down by Judge Neil Chawla KC.

One victim, who suffered over seven years of abuse totalling 36 assaults, told the court: "I have a reoccurring nightmare Alexander Westwood is standing above me. I wake up every time. I am scared on public transport in case I see him. 

"I have anxiety at work because he knows where it is.

"As a child I was violated my life. I self-harmed because I hated myself. Instead of taking it out on someone else I took it out on myself."

The mother of one of the victims told the court: "My son said 'the court system scares me. I do not want to see Alexander ever again. When I am alone I worry about it'."

Another victim cried saying "my relationships are suffering, I am untrusting in relationships. 

"Alexander is a very manipulative person and he has ruined my life. I feel it is something I can not fix. I will have to live with this for the rest of my life."

She added: "He has ruined my life and other peoples' lives and he does not care about people." As she said her last line she left the witness stand sobbing.

Another victim, who Westwood raped during acting classes, said: "I hate having a shower, I hate touching myself to wash. 

"I despise everything to do with acting when it was all I wanted to do. I started to despise men. During secondary school when the abuse was happening I could not see a point of living." 

Talking through the tears, she added: "I have hated myself and hate everything. Because of him."

Another victim, who came into contact with Westwood through his mother's church, said she cannot enter relationships or have intimate relations because of Westwood.

Prosecutor Andrew Wallace KC said 'sexual predator' Westwood could have been charged with 77 serious sexual assaults but for ease of sentencing they had been reduced to 26 counts.