A THREE Towns woman who was raped while her children slept in the house has told of her emotional trauma and recovery after the sex predator was locked up for five years.

The young mum, in her 20s, told the Herald how her friends, family and children have been her lifeline while she was awaiting justice, and how she spiralled into taking street Valium after the vile attack by Derek Kennedy – who was caged for attacking her at a property in Ardrossan’s Glasgow Street on May 13, 2019.

The 25-year-old offender denied the crime, but was found guilty following trial at the High Court in Glasgow, where the woman returned last week to see her attacker finally locked up.

She told the Herald: “You do see some folk getting away with it so at least he’s getting what he deserves. I was absolutely petrified during the trial – I just wanted out. It was horrible.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

“He ruined my life, he really did. I ended up in a bad way and started taking drugs and then my mum had to have my weans and that’s not me. Things are a lot different now but it was horrible.

“It was Valium that I was taking, the street Valium, it’s disgusting.

“I had to be in the women’s hostel but I’ve eventually settled now. If I didn’t have my weans I do not think I would be alright.

“It happened in 2019 then after the trial I had to wait for the verdict – it was horrid, I just wanted it all done with.

“At first he hadn’t been remanded he was just left to roam for two years – he never once got the jail until he was found guilty, it was terrible.”

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

When he returned to court for sentencing, Lord Sandison told Kennedy: “You were convicted of raping the woman...in her own home while her children were there.

“Your offence is a serious one aggravated that it happened while you were on bail.”

Kennedy, most recently of Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire and previously of Barrhead, was put on the sex offenders list indefinitely.

Jurors heard how the woman broke down during a 999 call. Describing how she protested to Kennedy during the attack, the victim recalled she was unsure if he thought she was “kidding” at the time.

The woman added in the police call: “He did not act as if he was doing anything wrong.”

The mum initially thought she may have “exaggerated” what happened until a friend insisted “no means no”.

The brave woman added: “My family and friends have been amazing. I’ve also had a lot of support from Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland. I was involved with social work too – they’ve all been really good.”