After that he could only get an erection if the woman was powerless to resist him.   “And so I became the Sobbing Rapist,” explained Paul.   Raping since it was the only way that he could perform the sex act, sobbing from guilt at what he was putting his victims through.

Seeing Anne-Marie staring at him, mouth agape from shock, he said, “After being released from Pentridge Prison, I started going round to dances and it was only by sheer chance that we met up.

“That first time we met, I expected you to throw a tantrum and point me out as the sobbing Rapist in front of everyone.   But to my surprise you didn’t recognise me.   It was only after we had been dating for a while that I realised you had completely blocked out that part of your life.”

He sighed heavily from guilt, then continued, “I suppose I should have stopped seeing you there and then.   But I started to suspect that you’d fallen head-over-heels for me, and in time I fell in love with you….

“I…I suppose now…knowing what you do…who I am, that you must hate me too much to go through with the wedding?”

Anne-Marie was leaning back against the bedroom wall, using it for support, as though afraid of falling, deeply shocked by her fiancée’s confession.   “No…no that isn’t true…I don’t hate you, Paul…I could never hate you….”

“But you must!” he insisted, surprised by her reaction.   “How could you still love me after what I did to you?   After I held you down and raped you?”

“I…I can’t explain it darling, I just do.   At the time   when it happened I hated you with all my heart.   But now, knowing you better, I love you enough to be able to forgive you for what you did to me.”

Paul sat down heavily on the end of the bed and stared across at Anne-Marie in disbelief.   “But how could you ever let me make love to you after we’re married?”

“Darling, if that’s all that’s bothering you,” she said, starting across the room toward him, “let me set your mind at rest right away.”

“What…what are you doing?” asked Paul, shocked as she pushed him over onto his back on the bed.