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As a member on a jury panel in 2018, the survivor realized he had to seek justice for his experience after being raped in 2004.

Hearing the individuals giving evidence, I could distinctly imagine myself in the exact position,” the survivor shared following the relinquishment his right to anonymity.

Following the court case, the presently 39-year-old from Norfolk’s Watton decided to approach law enforcement a second time to disclose his perpetrator.

On 27 February 2024, twenty long years post the violation, Shaun Gilder from Oulton Broad, Suffolk was handed eight years in incarceration after being convicted of dual offenses of sexual assault and an additional count of sexual penetration.

At the time, Dan had been 17 years old when he came across 21-year-old the assailant in Norwich in 2004, and their meeting became his earliest partnership.

On a Saturday evening in May of that year, the duo had been at a barbecue when the assailant got drunk and instructed Dan to transport him home.

At about midnight, the individual told Dan to stop the car on a secluded street behind the local hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk.

Gilder attacked Dan and left him with severe physical damage which resulted in him being admitted to hospital thrice that time period.

Traumatized, Dan was found a way to take the perpetrator home before heading to his mom’s home.

“I lay in bed for an extended period wondering, ‘what took place? what was that?’,” he shared.

In September that year, Dan approached the police and reported the assault.

He explained he had submitted a report at the time, but it was not advanced any beyond because he was “extremely unwell at that time”.

His grandparents and additional relatives did not know he was gay, he added.

“Life was different back then,” he reflected.

Currently, Dan works as a project manager for the government sector, but he had earlier been employed in a prison, where he said he would often suppress teardrops when prisoners discussed their own mistreatment.

He further stated he was physically confronted on the job, which also caused recurring memories.

“Later, while serving on the jury. Flashbacks back to the violation anew. It was a non-stop cycle that needed to stop,” he remarked.

The women testifying who helped achieve justice in the 2018 trial in which he was a juror were “empowering”, according to Dan.

“It was profoundly impactful to see them appearing and sharing their accounts and addressing the challenging inquiries being directed at them,” he commented.

“I had been employed at Stansted Airport as an immigration official at that time, and I had to take several weeks away due to illness.

“At that point I re-reported [the attack] to the law enforcement and I asked them to proceed with it for me, which they agreed to,” he continued.

Disturbing Testimony

Law enforcement officers from the local police were tasked with Dan’s case in 2018, and it proceeded to a charge and trial at Norwich Crown Court in late 2023.

Through his court submission, Dan described how he had been diagnosed with complex post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) linked to the violation.

“I’ve experienced, and still have, regular thoughts of ending my life,” he stated.

25% of women and about 6% of men have been the victims of sexual violence, or attempted sexual assault, as per the official statistics.

A recent study found that nearly half of 180 individuals who were exposed to disturbing content in legal settings reported symptoms consistent with PTSD.

“Historic incidents, mental health difficulties and immediate stress responses during a trial can worsen traumatic impacts,” the study authors explained.

Back in 2004, The survivor’s parent confronted the assailant when he came to see her son in the hospital after Dan had told her what had transpired.

“An anger surged as if ignited within me. I was deeply enraged,” she recalled.

The individual exited and it was the last time she saw him.

When speaking to her son, she said: “I was immensely proud of you for sticking by what you believed in and taking it all the way through. It was rightful vindication. You’d put in tremendous effort.

“Mentally it had deeply affected on you and we could observe how you had difficulties.”

He mentioned his present role as an fire service volunteer for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service had helped him with the recovery journey.

“Doing this for the local residents has provided me with something to focus on and exist for,” he said.

He explained he now enjoyed his canine companions, cycling and exploring new places.

Starting in May he has initiated production of videos about his story and shares them on online platforms, where he now has 12,000 followers on the social platform.

“It has assisted a lot of people. The number of private messages I’ve had to say it provided support is substantial,” he commented. “{I’ve got to do