Gemma Redhead was left terrified after her former partner telephoned her after he was released from prison, following a conviction for raping her . Brutally raped at knifepoint and left fearing for her life, Gemma Redhead believed her ordeal was over after her attacker was jailed. But as she attempted to rebuild her life, the young mother had a sickening reminder of the attack – from the man who carried it out. After he was released from prison, having served only half his sentence, he defied a restraining order to phone her. Miss Redhead said the 46-second call ‘reawakened all of the fear and terror of the attack’, leaving her unable to sleep or eat. ‘As soon as I heard his voice I realised who it was, and it disturbed something deep down inside of me,’ she said. Miss Redhead, 33, who has waived her right to anonymity, was left with post-traumatic stress disorder after being repeatedly raped by her former partner, Philip Kirby. She endured eight years of violence at the hands of bullying Kirby and his attacks became so brutal she lived in fear every day, thinking he would kill her. In August 2010 the mother-of-four, who has a child with Kirby, decided to break up with him. After they separated, Kirby, 32, refused to acknowledge the end of their relationship and begged Miss Redhead to take him back. He continued to harass her and eventually forced his way into her home before subjecting her to a harrowing ordeal. After the first horrifying attack, Miss Redhead begged him to leave, but he told her: ‘I’m already going to jail for a long time so what difference does it make?’ before raping her again. Kirby, of Newcastle, initially denied rape. But on the first day of his trial he changed his plea, admitting four counts of rape. In April 2011, he was jailed for eight years with a five-year extended licence period. He was also handed a restraining order which banned any contact with Miss Redhead for the rest of her life. Meanwhile she began counselling, including cognitive therapy, and medication to help her overcome her post-traumatic stress disorder. But she says her hopes of rebuilding her life have now been shattered. She said: ‘It is a daily struggle and an ongoing battle to deal with this. After his initial arrest I was hopeful for the future and felt free and that I could begin to rebuild my life. Philip Kirby had been sentenced to eight years in prison but was released after three years, and phoned his former partner. The rapist had been banned from contacting her for life and will now not be released until 2023 . ‘I now feel it will never be so and he will not leave me alone.’ Referring to the chilling phonecall, Miss Redhead added: ‘But at the same time I was not surprised. I had always felt as though he would come after me once he was released.’ She said Kirby had tried to ‘destroy’ her and she feared he would continue to harass her for the rest of her life. ‘We tried so hard to rebuild our lives after he virtually destroyed it,’ she said. ‘He will never leave us alone. We just can’t escape him. We feel trapped by his behaviour. Why can’t he just leave us alone to get on with our lives? I just want my family to be left in peace.’ Miss Redhead described herself as being in an ‘extreme state of anxiety’ since the phone call from Kirby. She said: ‘I will no longer go outside on my own. I can’t eat or sleep and when I do sleep I have constant nightmares and flashbacks. I am really scared. Ms Redhead was left with post traumatic stress disorder after the attack. She is pictured (above) with Kirby during their relationship . ‘Despite telling probation he wouldn’t contact me, he has. Prison has not been a deterrent for him. I feel very fearful of what he would do next. ‘I am still full of fear. I would like to be free of fear and not constantly worrying about his next release date.’ After the phone call Kirby was hauled back to court and he admitted breaching his restraining order. On Friday, Newcastle Crown Court heard that Kirby was released from prison in November last year and after drinking vodka he decided to contact his victim last month. He was sentenced to a further six months and will not be released until 2023, serving his full jail term. Judge Deborah Sherwin said: ‘What makes this matter particularly bad is the effect she suffered at your hands originally. ‘It is not part of my function to sentence you again in respect of that but it is the legacy of that, that she feels vulnerable and afraid, therefore any phone calls made by you would have a greater effect on her than they might do to any other person.’
Philip Kirby was jailed for eight years in 2011 for raping Gemma Redhead . The 32-year-old raped his former partner and mother of his child at knifepoint and was jailed and banned from contacting her for life . He was released from prison after three years and phoned Ms Redhead, who was left terrified and feeling trapped by call from her former partner . Kirby has been returned to prison and will not be released until 2023 .