A YOUNG woman who was raped by two men while she was unconscious says not knowing what happened to her is the hardest thing to deal with.
Roman Smentek, 37, and Krysztof Drozdz, 26, are today each starting prison sentences of eight years and nine months for the horrifying attack.
But their victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, fears her sentence could be much longer as she is haunted by the attack.
Smentek and Drozdz, both of Poland, pleaded guilty to raping the 19-year-old university student in their property after she incorrectly gave a taxi driver their house number – which was just doors down from her own – on the way back from a night out in Hull's Welly Club.
She had been sick and was struggling to walk when she was taken inside and carried upstairs by Smentek and Drozdz, who then locked her in their bedroom.
A statement read out on behalf of the victim at Hull Crown Court yesterday revealed how she has recurring nightmares that she is being watched in her sleep by a man and is terrified to be alone.
Read out by prosecution barrister Mark McKone, it said: "The fact she was vulnerable and taken advantage of in such a way that she does not know what has happened means she is struggling to come to terms with it as she has many unanswered questions.
"She has recurring nightmares, she cries at night and is scared someone is there, watching her while she is asleep."
Officers burst into the bedroom to find Smentek raping the woman. She was asleep and disorientated when she was woken.
Drozdz was in the room on the laptop at the time, however forensic tests confirmed both men raped her.
Not normally a drinker, she believes her drink could have been spiked during the night out.
When she was dropped off, a man was trying to help her and suggested ringing the police, but was told by another Polish man "No police, it's OK. One hour, she fine".
Increasingly concerned, he phoned the victim's mother, who arrived 30 minutes later to see a light on in the bedroom. She could hear the two men laughing and she called the police.
Both men denied rape until last week, when they were faced with overwhelming evidence against them.
Mitigating for Smentek, Anil Murray said it was a "one-off, offence in unusual circumstances".
Richard Thompson, acting on behalf of Drosdz, said: "He is remorseful for the shame he brings himself and his family, but particularly the anguish he has caused the complainant."
Mr Thompson and Mr Murray disputed the men acted together – which warrants a lengthier sentence – but The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear, told the offenders: "You lied and lied about your involvement with this girl. You pleaded guilty, not out of any sense of remorse, but because the evidence which had grown as the case progressed persuaded you to fight on was hopeless.
"The offence has already had an impact on her. How she will manage her feelings in the future is uncertain."
