A young woman who was seriously sexually assaulted and attacked with a knife by her violent ex-boyfriend has spoken of her ordeal in a bid to help other victims.

Lindsay Brooks, 24, watched yesterday at Supreme Court as Rohan Richards was jailed for 14 years for two terrifying attacks upon her after their relationship had broken down.

Crown Counsel Oonagh Vaucrosson told the court how, during the incidents in February and May 2004, Richards abducted his victim, held her captive in her home, and seriously sexually assaulted her. He cut her on the leg with a knife during one of the attacks, and injured her with a ratchet during the other.

Speaking to The Royal Gazette after yesterday's sentencing, Mrs. Brooks, from Paget, agreed to forfeit her legal right to anonymity in the hope that her story will inspire others who are suffering violence to seek help.

"Come forward and be strong. It's a very private thing you are going through but it is your right to be protected," she said.

Mrs. Brooks married her husband Tyrone in February and was under her maiden name of Lindsay Simmons at the time of the offences against her.

She is now determined to use her experiences to help others. She has recently addressed a group of men who have committed violence against women, as well as some middle school children and their parents and a church group about her experience.

"I just want to stop other people going through this because it happens so much," she said of her work, which has been achieved through the organisations Man in Motion and Voices of Change.

"People think just because you are in a relationship with someone or have been in one, that it is not a case of rape, but it is."

Richards, 31, a married Jamaican who has several children, was found guilty by a jury earlier this year of two serious sexual assaults on Mrs. Brooks.

He was also convicted of two counts of unlawful wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, one count of burglary, and one of intimidating his victim by asking her not to proceed with charges after the first attack upon her.

A seventh count of intimidating a witness was ordered to lie on file after the jury failed to reach a verdict.

Ms. Vaucrosson spoke of the impact of the crimes upon Mrs. Brooks, not just through the physical injuries she suffered but also emotional anxiety.

Shade Subair, defending, said it was accepted that Mrs. Brooks had suffered considerable psychological trauma but said that the physical injuries she sustained were of the "less serious category."

Miss. Subair added that Richards does not pose a risk to society and that his Bermudian wife has indicated that she is desirous of a reconciliation with him.

Sentencing Richards, Chief Justice Richard Ground said: "Those who are going to commit violence against women need to know that a relationship does not excuse it."

Mrs. Brooks still bears a scar on her leg from the knife attack, and had to suffer the ordeal of giving evidence during Richard's trial.

She said afterwards: "I'm going to be traumatised for the rest of my life by what he did, but justice has been served. People hardly ever get convicted of serious sexual assault."

She explained that Richards had become violent after their two year relationship had broken down due to him cheating on her, and recalled how he had beaten her prior to the incidents he is charged with, during which he held her captive for hours.

"I still have nightmares about it, and when someone knocks on my door at night I'm terrified," she said.

Mrs. Brooks said she wished to thank her prosecution team, Ms. Vaucrosson and Carrington Mahoney and also her family, who supported her throughout the court hearings.