Thread by @ellieokwilson

I just met a young woman who (along with 4 other women) was unknowingly living with my rapist while he was studying at @EdinburghUni and awaiting trial for his crimes against me. Buckle in 🧵

Herself and the other women were looking for a flat and eventually found one which was owned by my rapist’s parents. There was absolutely no mention of him staying there on the advert.

The parents told the women that their son was just going to be staying there temporarily, however he remained there for the remainder of their tenancy. They were never told he was awaiting trial for rape, and didn’t find out he was a rapist until after he was convicted.

The young woman told me how violated she felt when she found out she’d been unknowingly living with a rapist, in an all-female flat aside from him. She also feels angry at the parents for knowingly putting them at risk.

She told me how he had got himself a girlfriend, and seemed to be living a normal student life. Bear in mind, @EdinburghUni knew he had been suspended from Glasgow Uni and was awaiting trial for my rape.

I feel sick and appalled by this news, the two years he was on bail was like a prison sentence for me - I was constantly terrified he was going to come after me. All the while he had started a whole new life and had hidden his past.

I am also even more angry than I already was at his parents (who are practicing GPs) for enabling him. They knew of their son’s crimes for a considerable amount of time, but were more considered with covering them up than him taking accountability.

Furthermore, my rapist’s defence lawyer made a big deal of the fact he’d had female flatmates. Part of me wonders whether the parents had deliberately brought in female flatmates in the hope it may help his case.

This vile situation could’ve been avoided if Edinburgh University had not decided to offer admission to a (then suspected) rapist. This is rape culture in action. I am sick to my stomach.

It also goes without saying that I’m immensely grateful to the woman for reaching out to me and telling me about this. I’m so appreciative and so upset that yet another person has been affected by the actions of this individual.