My girl’s two hour rape torture (From St Helens Star)

Rapist Carl Wheal jailed after attack on 15-year-old girl in Rainford

9:23am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News By Stephen Mather, Senior reporter

THE distraught mother of a teenage rape victim has spoken of the devastating impact it has had on her daughter.

The girl was aged 15 when she was attacked in Linear Park, Rainford, while walking home from a party.

Rapist Carl Wheal, 18, was jailed this week at Liverpool Crown Court.

The victim’s mother told the Star how a once quiet, private girl, is now prone to mood swings and bouts of depression.

She added that the family were also disappointed that Wheal, from Rainford, was given an indeterminate sentence, but could be released in just three years.

She said: “We were looking for longer, but because he pleaded guilty, they knocked a bit off. That’s not right. No one knows what she’s gone through.

“His intention was to kill her. He bragged about it later, saying he was inches away from killing her.

“She was put through two hours of torture, leaving her with bruises round her neck. He then ran off before giving her one last punch in her face.

“It will take the whole family a long time to get over this. It’s sickened us all. I just wish I could have been there to help her.”

She explained the effect the attack has had on her daughter, adding: “If I raise my voice, she will go into a crouched mode. It has smashed her confidence.

“Her nature is not to hurt people, so for what happened really offended her. She is very friendly, but now can get angry with people.

“Just after it happened she was frightened of the dark. She wanted her bedroom door open and kept jumping up. All I could tell her was she’s safe. “She used to love to dance and sing, but it’s even knocked that out of her.

“Because his sentence wasn’t long enough, she’s frightened in case he gets out and finds her and finishes what he started.

“At the moment she’s locking her feelings in. The other day, she wasn’t well and didn’t go to college.

She said to me later, “I’m having one of my down days mum”. “We just want everyone to know what a nasty person he is.”