NATALEE Gibbings cowered in fear while the man she’d let sleep on her sofa crept into her room and violently raped her – as her disabled son slept in the next room.
And now the 47-year-old says she is “living in fear” after her attacker cut off his GPS tag and went on the run eight days after being released, leaving searching for him.
Natalee Gibbings says the disappearance of her attacker has left her in a ‘living hell’ Credit: SWNS
Ross Grant was charged with rape, pleading not guilty at trial at in August 2022, but was found guilty and sentenced to six years behind bars Credit: SWNS
Natalee, from Trowbridge, , she met Ross Grant in 2015 through her brother.
They spent time together at several social events, where they bonded over their shared love of horse riding.
Six years later, on September 3, 2021, the mum-of-three was at the pub with her half-brother Michael when they bumped into Grant again.
He spent the whole evening with the group, who all went back to Natalee’s house to drink wine.
She allowed Grant, who she described as “charming”, to sleep on her sofa, as he said he was “just passing through” and had nowhere else to go.
In return, he offered to help her pack up her home the following week before a planned move, as Natalee suffers from mobility issues in her back and hips.
But instead of sleeping, Grant crept into her bedroom and violently raped her, telling Natalee: “I’m going to have to take what I want.”
She described being in “total shock” as he pinned her down during the horrifying attack, which left her in “pure panic and fear”.
Grant then went on the run, evading the police for five months, before his arrest.
He was charged with rape, pleading not guilty at trial at Swindon Crown Court in August 2022, but was found guilty and sentenced to six years behind bars.
According to police, after being released on March 19 this year, Grant breached the terms of his licence by failing to return to the approved premises by his curfew.
He has since cut off his GPS tag and can’t be traced.
Mum-of-three Natalee let Grant, first met her rapist in 2015 Credit: Natalee Gibbings / SWNS
Natalee bravely fought back and managed to free herself eventually Credit: SWNS
force said Grant was recalled to on March 27, and they are now trying to locate him.
His disappearance has left Natalee in a “living hell”.
She said: “I trusted him, I took him in and looked after him and let him stay on my sofa.”
Former carer Natalee, who no longer works due to , continued: “When he did get sentenced, I didn’t feel grateful, I cried for all the other girls that never had a voice to report it.
“But knowing he’s out there, I feel petrified; nobody can comprehend how it feels.”
Describing the assault, she said: “I woke up, and he was pulling my legs apart. I started to struggle.
“It ended in a scuffle. I managed to get my leg around his and roll off the bed.
“But he pinned me down. I can’t even explain if I was in pain or not; it was just shock.
“It felt like it lasted a lifetime, but it could have been minutes, or even seconds.”
Natalee bravely fought back and managed to free herself eventually, but not before Grant tore out a clump of her hair.
She said: “I don’t think I even screamed, I just remember saying ‘get off me, get off me and get out of my house’.
Natalee’s rapist went on the run, evading the police for five months, before his arrest Credit: SWNS
Thames Valley Police said Grant was recalled to prison on March 27, and they are now trying to locate him Credit: SWNS
“As soon as I got away from him, I ran straight into the bathroom, and I heard him run away.
“I didn’t unlock the door until I heard the front door shut.”
In shock, Natalee texted a friend, who told her to call the police immediately.
She spent eight hours in a police station, where she spoke to police and was physically examined.
Describing the horror of the situation, Natalee said: “My son had to go to school the next day, not knowing where his mum was. There was a police officer on the front door.”
She also talked about his sentencing, which she didn’t attend, saying: “My Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer, Ash Burton, who was amazing all the way through, read out my victim impact statement.
“Grant never showed any emotion.
“When he went away, it was a relief, because I always thought he would get away with it.”
After her attacker went on the run, Natalee said she stocked up on food so she didn’t have to go out, “in case he was there”.
She added: “I have a disabled son, I can’t just run and leave.
“I’ll live in fear for the rest of my life.
“He’ll always be dangerous, and I know that for a fact.
“But I still want every other young woman or girl to report their abuse.
“These men have to lose their power; we have to stand up and stop it.”
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “[Grant] failed to return to the approved premises in time for his curfew and has absconded from this location.
“He also cut off his GPS tag, which was placed on him due to his licence conditions.
“Anyone with information should contact us quoting reference number 43260206568.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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