Robbed and raped in her own home - Woman recounts horrifying experience

A woman who was raped and robbed by one of two men who had broken into her home earlier this year, continues to suffer the trauma of the assault, plagued by the awful memory.

"They stained me of my dignity. They took all of that from me and it hurts," said Jane*. "I have had sleepless nights, and I hardly go on the road any more. I just stay locked inside and do whatever it takes to protect my kids. It happened at my marital home, but my husband wasn't home ... I just can't find the courage to go back there ... thankfully, my husband remains in my corner."

Jane, a small business owner, was about to head out to open her establishment when she was pounced upon by the two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

"It was broad daylight, and mi see two man come in mi house mask up, and one a dem say mi must give dem di money weh mi have in the house. Mi tell dem mi nuh have none, but at the same time mi a wonder if a sleep mi a sleep and a have a terrible nightmare," she recalled. She said her life and that of her children flashed before her, and she prayed for God's protection.

"Mi did just buy a phone, and one a dem grab it and say mi must pull it. But for some reason mi panic, and instead of putting four digits, mi a put three. It get the one with the gun mad, and mi just remember when him rest the gun on mi chest and tell mi say him will put a shot through mi; and mi urinate up myself same time," she recounted.

After she was robbed of her cell phone and jewellery, one of the men demanded that she remove her clothes, and blatantly told her that he was going to rape her. Her protests that she was on her period fell on deaf ears.

"Him nuh use no 'boots' (condom) and his friend watched him carry out his nasty act. He didn't stop him. My rapist even had the nerve to tell mi say fi a big woman, him feel like him would a link mi back again," she continued.

Jane said she lay in her house in disbelief after her attackers left. She said she felt dirty and ashamed, and questioned her commitment to God.

"After that, mi just run off. Mi go [police] station and report it to the police. The way mi frighten and panic, when mi a talk to the police mi just keep repeating myself, but thankfully the police understand. It's like mi nerves mash up," she said. Jane did medical tests after the assault to see if she contracted a sexually transmitted infection.

"I have to go back in May for the result. Mi nervous bad, because mi have to wonder if anything in mi system," she said. Jane said that she is often plagued by nightmares, flashbacks and other unpleasant memories.

"Mi feel angry at times because this change mi life completely. Mi end up close mi business and move because mi broken. Mi nah really work now; and if dem did just rob mi alone, mi would still do mi business, but they took everything from me," said Jane. "Dem just mash up mi life."

*name changed to protect identity