Serupepeli Niubasaga – Bristol

A mother has spoken about the traumatic moment a soldier raped her in her own home after claiming her clothing was “an invitation” for sex while her young daughter slept upstairs.

Georgia Hinton, 26, chose to waive her anonymity after Serupepeli Niubasaga, 41, was convicted of sexually assaulting and raping her. The attack happened after he followed her home from a barbecue in May 2018.

Georgia, from Livingston, Scotland, had attended the gathering with her daughter, who was three at the time. After returning home and putting her daughter to bed, she realised Niubasaga originally from Fiji had followed them and entered the house.

She said the soldier later told her that the way she dressed would attract “the wrong attention” in his home country and that men would see her clothing as “an invitation” for sex.

Niubasaga was sentenced to seven years in prison in July after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault at Bristol Crown Court.

At the time, Georgia was living at Duke of Gloucester Barracks in South Cerney, Gloucestershire, with her then-wife, who served in the Army, and her daughter.

She said she had first noticed Niubasaga staring at her during a neighbourhood barbecue and became uncomfortable with his behaviour. According to Georgia, he repeatedly tried to stop her from leaving and continued watching her throughout the evening.

After she returned home around midnight with her daughter, Georgia said she heard a noise upstairs and turned to find Niubasaga standing in the bedroom.

Fearing for her daughter’s safety, she went downstairs, hoping to keep him away from the child. She said he then began making comments about her appearance before sexually assaulting and raping her.

Georgia later contacted a friend for help, and police and Army welfare officers arrived hours later. Niubasaga was arrested the following day.

She later moved with her daughter to Suffolk to live with family after struggling with flashbacks and trauma following the attack.

A first trial in 2019 ended with a hung jury, but Niubasaga was later convicted in a second trial.

Speaking after the verdict, Georgia said the legal process had been extremely difficult but that she was relieved justice had been served. She also called for better support for sexual assault victims within the Army.