Rogan Taylor, 24, who was sexually abused as a teenager by her then-boyfriend Alexander Westwood, an actor who appeared in the television series Sex Education, has described him as a "disgusting monster" and stated she "still has nightmares". Westwood was jailed for 15 and a half years at Wolverhampton Crown Court in November 2024 after being convicted of 26 sexual offences against five victims, including a six-year-old girl and a boy aged between nine and ten.
Relationship Began on Social Media
Rogan, who waived her right to anonymity but prefers to use her first and maiden name, started a relationship with Alexander Westwood in November 2018 when she was 17, after he approached her via social media. Westwood, then 18, lived several hours away in Shropshire and had no shared connections with her. Rogan recalled that initially, he would lavish her with presents, and they moved in together after just 10 months of dating, shortly after she turned 18.
Abuse Started in 2021
By 2021, Rogan stated Westwood began sexually abusing her by penetrating her with his fingers, despite her "clearly" refusing, biting him, and attempting to push him away. She described feeling "trapped in the relationship" due to their shared living arrangements and his closeness to her family. Rogan revealed she attempted to take her own life and started self-harming in 2021 as a result of the mistreatment. The relationship ended in October 2022.
Reporting the Abuse
Rogan disclosed the abuse in 2023 after her then-boyfriend told her that what she had endured was "not normal" and "illegal". She reported the abuse to authorities that same year. During the summer of 2024, officers informed her they were building a case against Westwood and that additional reports of sexual abuse had emerged. Rogan provided a video interview with police, detailing her experiences, as she felt unable to testify in person during court proceedings.
Court Proceedings and Sentence
In November 2024, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Westwood's criminal behaviour started when he was aged ten, when he sexually assaulted a six-year-old. Prosecutor Andrew Wallace stated this resulted in years of "the normalisation of sexual abuse". Westwood also targeted two teenage girls who had approached him for acting lessons, and a young boy he encouraged to touch himself as part of a "game" when the boy was 10 and Westwood was 18. Westwood smirked in the dock as the particulars of his crimes were presented. He rejected the accusations but was found guilty of 26 sexual offences. Sentencing Westwood to 15-and-a-half years imprisonment, Judge Neil Chawla KC stated he would be required to serve a minimum of two-thirds of the term before being considered for parole and would subsequently remain on licence for four years. The judge remarked that Westwood had been "nonchalant, bordering on arrogant" throughout the trial. Westwood was also handed a 26-year restraining order barring him from contacting the five victims and a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.
Victim Impact
Rogan delivered her victim impact statement in court, explaining how he "ruined" her entire life, her degree, and "traumatised" her. She said: "I remember thinking it's not enough for the scale of the crime and the impact on all these lives. I think it's an unfair sentence for somebody who showed no remorse." Rogan continues to suffer flashbacks and frequently wakes up "screaming and in tears". She said: "I still can't believe something like this happened to me. I was with a serial rapist and abuser." She believes self-test DNA kits, like those developed by non-profit organisation Enough, which can be used as evidence in court, represent a positive step forward. Rogan is now pursuing a master's degree and planning to undertake a PhD, and said she feels "so lucky" to have the support of her friends, family, and boyfriend.
