Two victims who were sexually assaulted near Banbury bravely speak about their horrific ordeal

Two victims who were sexually assaulted near Banbury by a predator who spiked their drinks have tried to describe their horror that they have been through.

As we reported earlier, Luiz Inacio Da Silvaneto, aged 36, of Riverlight Quay, Wandsworth, London, was jailed for 22 years after he was found guilty of two counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy/overpower to allow sexual activity; one count of rape; two counts of causing a male 13 or over to engage in a penetrative sexual activity without consent.

Da Silvaneto drugged both men and sexually assaulted them at a property in Middle Barton.

Click here to read the full story: Rapist jailed for spiking two men's drinks and sexually assaulting them near Banbury

Both victims have shown bravery in coming forward and both have spoken publicly about their terrifying ordeals.

These are the words of the first victim:

“That night in November 2021, my life changed forever, as a person I have changed and will never ever be the same again. I trusted him. I feel if he could do that to someone he knew, what could he do to someone he didn’t know, or someone younger than me?

“The feeling of being drugged was horrendous and a feeling I will never forget for as long as I live. I felt instantly like I wanted to sleep, I felt like I needed to lay down, I could barely stand on my feet, my speech wouldn’t come out. Then I came too whilst he was doing what he did, and this is something that will live with me for the rest of my lift, an image I replay over and over in my mind. Being unable to move or speak, but to know what was happening is a feeling I will never ever be able to forget or describe to anyone.

“Directly following what happened, I was unable to sleep, eat, or talk to anyone about what had happened and I felt like I walked around in a trance for days and it made me feel like I was losing my mind. I felt like what had happened to me was eating me up from the inside. It’s the worst experience I have ever lived through or survived.

“Even now, eight months later, I have been unable to tell my family or any of my friends about what happened. How can I tell them about this? What words would I use? So I live with this alone every day.

“I’m heterosexual. I’m Catholic. This has had a huge effect on both of those parts of my life. I feel it has already, and it will affect future intimate relationships. I have always loved female company but at the moment I feel unable to get into a relationship. Since this, I just don’t feel able to socialise with people. I hope one day I will be able to, but at the moment I just can’t cope with going out and being with people and I’m not sure how I will be able to move forward with this part of my life.

“Sometimes I still lose my vision and my hearing, and I feel the only thing that helps is laying in a cold bath of water to try and calm myself down. I have panic attacks and just struggle to cope with everything, I then can’t sleep which doesn’t help my mental wellbeing. I have been diagnosed with PTSD. I regularly see a counsellor and a psychologist.

“I still get really angry about what he did to me, and how it’s made me feel and had forever changed me as a person. I can never again be the fun-loving person who loved to go out with friends. I don’t know if I will ever fully trust people again. How can I when someone I knew could do something like that to me?

“In the eyes of the law this may be over now, but for me I will have to live with what he did to me forever and nothing will change that.”

These are the words of the second victim:

“I went out with my colleagues. The next morning I woke up miles from home in a strange house with a man I have never met. The sense of panic I felt that morning is indescribable and I have never been so terrified in my life. Calling my wife crying and screaming down the phone is a memory she can never forget and has left her traumatised. The weeks that ensued were incredibly difficult for myself and all those close to me, sleepless nights and severe anxiety requiring me and my wife to take time off work.

“Whilst I have little memory of that night, I unfortunately had to hear of the awful things this man did to me against my will. It is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life and will cross my mind every day.

“I have decided not to take my right to read my victim impact statement in court in person, as it has taken every bit of strength I have to keep trying to live every day as a normal person and every time I receive a call from the police, an email or have to attend an appointment relating to that night it takes me right back to the moment where I woke up in that house. I cannot bear the feelings of stress, terror and anxiety that it causes me, on top of everything else.

“I am lucky to have an amazing support system around me and my wife, friends and family have got me through this. I take great comfort knowing that I have been able to support the police in making sure this never happens again and that I was able to break the chain and protect others from this monster. I would like to deeply thank all those involved with the case for your ongoing support and success in bringing this person to justice.“