Painswick man jailed for raping woman has sentence increased
27-year-old Aaron Akram will now serve six and a half years in prison
A 27-year-old man who raped a woman has had his prison sentence increased after a Court of Appeal hearing.
Aaron Akram, from Canton Acre, Painswick, was found guilty of two counts of rape following a trial in November last year (2025).
He was jailed for four years and given a 15-year restraining order when he was sentenced in December last year (2025).
Akram's sentence has now been increase to six years and six months after the original sentence was referred by the Crown Prosecution Service to the Attorney General's office under the Unduly Lenient Scheme.
During his trial last year, the court heard how Akram repeatedly turn up at the woman's home uninvited and persistently asked her to have sex with him.
The woman told him she did not want to and he ignored her refusals and raped her.
The victim reported what had happened to a support service and then the police.
The charges against Akram were authorised by the CPS after an investigation by Gloucestershire Police.
After the sentence was increased, the victim said: "I'm so relieved that the jury saw through Aaron's lies and that they believed the truth about what he subjected me to. I feel that he has always had a manipulative way of talking his way out of anything, and won't take no for an answer. For me to have been believed means everything, and it felt so empowering to hear the word 'guilty'.
"I want people to know who he is and what he did to me, so that he can't treat other women like this in the future. I felt forced to put up with his actions for years and years, but I got to a point where I felt like I was protecting him by keeping quiet about what was happening to me, and I started to speak to my friends and family about what he was doing.
"I was put in contact with a support worker at Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS), and she was so wonderful. After speaking with her for months and months, it got me into a position where I felt as though I could speak to the police as I realised that if I didn't report him, he will be in my life forever.
"By the time I went to the police there was already a whole file of evidence on him which GDASS could provide, which helped strengthen my case, and I had friends and family as witnesses who could speak for me in court.
"My advice to anyone who is in a similar situation is to please speak to someone. It doesn’t have to be the police, but a friend, relative or someone who can support you so that you are not isolated and feeling trapped.
"It's such a relief that this is over and done with now and although it has been really difficult, I’m glad that I went through with this and trusted the process. If I hadn't, I would still be putting up with his awful actions now."
The investigating officer, Police Staff Investigator Catherine Law, said: "Throughout this long and difficult investigation, the victim has shown remarkable strength and resilience.
"Despite the emotional strain and challenges she faced over such an extended period, she remained courageous and determined throughout.
"I hope that the outcome brings her some form of closure and peace moving forward. Her bravery and perseverance stand as an example of strength for other victims, showing that even though hardship, it is possible to continue with courage."
In Gloucestershire support is available for those who may have experienced sexual violence and abuse.
First Light provides Independent Sexual Violence Advisors for victims/survivors of sexual violence, whether the abuse was recent or not: https://www.firstlight.org.uk/
The Survivor Pathway is an online resource for anyone wanting to know more about sexual violence support services in the South West: https://survivorpathway.org.uk/