'They were friends who I trusted for 10 years': Rape victim's emotional statement after she was attacked by two men in a caravan when she refused to have a threesome with them
- Woman raped by two men still affected by the 2016 ordeal in western Victoria
- Jury found Shaun Bloomfield and Luke Merryfull guilty of rape earlier this year
- Victim statement read out in court described the lifechanging impact on victim
- Pair will be sentenced this Wednesday and were warned to expect jail time
A young woman feels helpless and fears returning to Victoria three years after she was raped by two friends who propositioned her for a threesome.
The victim rejected the sexual advances of Shaun Bloomfield and Luke Merryfull when the trio were alone in a caravan at Balmoral, in western Victoria back in 2016.
The victim said 'absolutely no way' and 'no' to the men, but her pleas were ignored, the Victorian County Court heard on Monday.
The victim considered Shaun Bloomfield (pictured) and Luke Merryfull as friends prior to the rape in Balmoral in western Victoria in 2016
'She said that throughout the ordeal,' prosecutor Daryl Brown told the Victorian County Court.
In an attempt to avoid the men, she wrapped herself in a blanket and rolled away but was unable to escape them.
Both men, now aged 24, denied the crime at a trial earlier this year, arguing it was consensual sex.
A jury found Bloomfield guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, and Merryfull guilty of rape.
In a victim impact statement read out on court in court on Monday, the woman described ongoing pain inflicted by the two friends she had trusted for 10 years.
'This will always have an impact on my life,' the statement read.
'The offenders have not shown any remorse, guilt or empathy of what they have done for me.'
'They have continued to live their lives normally, playing sports, working and hanging out with friends in our hometown.'
A victim impact statement read out in court on Monday described the ongoing affect of the rape by Luke Merryfull (pictured) and Shaul Bloomfield three years ago
Three years on, the victim still struggles to cope with the lifechanging impact the harrowing ordeal has had on her.
'I feel helpless and stuck in an awful situation,' Mr Brown read from the statement.
The woman, who has since moved interstate, said she feels ostracised in her former community.
'I fear going home to visit my family.'
The attack had put her life on hold, she had lost trust in people and she needs medication, she said.
The two men will be sentenced in Victorian County Court (pictured) this Wednesday
The crime had aggravating features including multiple offenders and a breach of trust, Mr Brown added.
'She had a right to feel safe in their company and that trust was broken and they took advantage of it,' he said.
Supporters of Bloomfield and Merryfull packed the Melbourne courtroom on Monday.
A lawyer for Merryfull said it was a 'testament' to the men that so many people still supported them.
A jury found Shaun Bloomfield (pictured) guilty of two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault
'I don't often see this many people in court ... this is extraordinary,' County Court Judge Gerard Mullaly noted.
Lawyers for both men said the crimes were not premeditated and were opportunistic, which should be taken into account for sentencing.
Merryfull has been assured by the president of his football club that he will be welcomed back after he’s been sentenced while Bloomfield has settled into prison life where he's lost 12 kilograms, Nine News reported.
Neither of them had any prior criminal history.
The pair will be sentenced on Wednesday.
Judge Mullaly warned the pair to expect significant jail time.
A lawyer for Luke Merryfull (pictured) said it was a 'testament' to the men to see many of their supporters attend court on Monday
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