I was raped by ex hubby…he’s only been in prison a year but now terrifying legal loophole means he could released early

MUM Katie Maylea believed she could finally begin to heal when her evil ex-husband was handed a lengthy jail sentence for raping her. But now the brave sexual assault victim tells of her disgust at learning her attacker Christian Dodd could be released from prison early thanks to a legal loophole. Katie Maylea says she was ‘disgusted’ to find out prisoners serving sentences for multiple offences could have their release date changed Credit: Kennedy News Katie’s ex-husband Christian Dodd was sentenced to 13 years in prison for rape and seven years for assault by penetration Credit: Kennedy News “I’ve already been through absolute hell,” says Katie, who is waiving her anonymity to help as many other victims as she can. “I’ve been left with PTSD which I still really struggle with – the flashbacks come back and the night terrors come back. Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! “[The early release] would feel like I’m secondary to prison spaces: he [could get] released early and I’ve technically got the life sentence.” Katie, 40, split with Dodd back in 2021 after two years of marriage and 12 years together, letting her ex sleep over occasionally so he could spend time with their child. She says her ex-husband, from Paignton, South Devon, gaslighted, emotionally abused and isolated her during their relationship before and after they split, when he carried out his unspeakable acts of sexual violence. “I’d been with him for 12 years and I have no idea who he is,” says the Cornwall mum. Katie and Christian split in 2021 after two years of marriage and 12 years together Credit: Kennedy News Katie describes the night she was assaulted as “terrifying” Credit: Kennedy News “The first night [the rape] happened, while it was going on I remember lying there and I couldn’t do anything because he’s a big guy. “I clearly remember thinking: ‘This must be what it feels like to be raped’. Most read in Fabulous “I managed to get up and he said to me: ‘That’s the best sex I ever had’.” Dodd, who was 46 when he was jailed, committed a further serious sex assault on Katie and went onto be sentenced to 13 years in prison for rape and seven years for assault by penetration at Truro Crown Court last year. He admitted his actions in August 2022 after he was arrested, saying she had not consented and “he had no excuse to do what he had done”. “The assault by penetration night was terrifying,” says Katie. “I don’t remember a lot of it and it was all very strange. “There was this dawning awful realisation and feeling that I’ll never forget of just being absolutely petrified because I thought ‘I just don’t know who that person is in my bedroom’. Katie says her ex-husband gaslighted, emotionally abused and isolated her during their relationship Credit: Kennedy News Katie is pleading with the government to reconsider the early release scheme Credit: Kennedy News “That was a terrifying moment.” In her powerful victim impact statement in court, Dodd’s ex told how his actions had destroyed her life, leaving her homeless and needing to use food banks. She felt, in her own words, “broken and used, ashamed and humiliated, dirty and degraded” and had been left contemplating suicide. Effective from next month, The Government’s new Sentencing Act will see some violent and sexual offenders eligible for release halfway through their sentences, rather than after two-thirds. Rape charges are exempt but assault by penetration is not mentioned, with Dodd’s sentences for both offences running concurrently. Katie claims she was ‘disgusted’ to receive an email on August 8 stating that prisoners who are serving sentences for multiple offences could still have their overall release date changed, meaning she is unsure if Dodd’s release date could be affected. “The email from probation has thrown it all into question because it’s very unclear,” she says. “It made me feel very anxious, really upset and angry.” The Ministry of Justice has said that all sentencing calculations are still ongoing and victims will be contacted as soon as they have more information, leaving Katie in a state of limbo, with her nervous system “wrecked”. “It would feel completely invalidating,” says the victim, of the possibility Dodd could serve less time behind bars. “There’s been no healing or time – it’s constant waiting and limbo while I’m still dealing with the aftermath. “It’s put me in quite a bad place, I have points where I literally can’t stand up.” The difference between the offences rape and sexual assault by penetration under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 is that the latter is carried out by a body part or item that isn’t the penis. Both require a lack of consent and both offences carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. “Assault by penetration in my view is the same as rape,” Katie says. “The night that technically was the ‘assault by penetration’ charge was worse than the night he got the rape conviction for. “It’s ridiculous.” The mum is pleading with the government to reconsider the early release scheme, which she believes could cost women their lives. “I really think it’s going to cause an absolute disaster,” she says. “You’re putting the burden on victims and ultimately in some cases bereaved families that have lost people to domestic abuse rather than dealing with the issue [prison capacity] itself. “I understand that some women would not want to waive their right to anonymity because there’s the potential of a comeback but the more people that speak up about it and tell their stories the more it’s going to be listened to. “All communication needs to be clear and direct as the uncertainty and conflicting information is affecting me and other women. “It’s going to ultimately also stop women coming forward altogether as no one is going to have faith in the justice system at all.” The Ministry of Justice said they were unable to comment on specific cases but that sentencing calculations are still ongoing and victims will be contacted as soon as they have more information. A spokesperson said: “We have always stated we wanted to go further, and we are fast-tracking a plan to keep more of the most dangerous offenders behind bars. “We share the public’s anger that these options are even being considered, after we inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse. “We are fixing this by building 14,000 new prison places, expanding electronic tagging on an unprecedented scale, and investing in probation services at record levels. “We are also exploring how we can go further, including faster deportation of foreign criminals, better use of the women’s estate and reviewing the unjust IPP sentences.” How to report a sexual assault Contact a doctor or practice nurse at your GP surgery. Contact a voluntary organisation, such as Rape Crisis, Women’s Aid, Victim Support, The Survivors Trust or Male Survivors Partnership. Call the 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247. Speak to the rape and sexual abuse support line run by Rape Crisis England and Wales – you can call the helpline on 0808 500 2222 or use the online chat (both are free and are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year). Comment now