Sarah Ransome and Elizabeth Stein among victims who addressed court at Ghislaine Maxwell sentencing
One of Ghislaine Maxwell’s victims Sarah Ransome said she became “nothing more than a human sex toy” for the entertainment of Epstein, Maxwell and others over several months.
Ransome is one of a number of women who delivered victim impact statements at Maxwell’s sentencing in New York on Tuesday.
She arrived at court holding hands with another victim, Elizabeth Stein.
In her full written statement, Ransome said during one stay at Epstein’s private island, St Little James, she tried to jump off a cliff into shark-infested waters.
“At the time, the extremely risky escape seemed more appealing than being raped one more time.”
She described Maxwell as the manager of “several recruiters and many others who provided the means and cover for Epstein’s predation”.
She said: “Like Hotel California, you could check into the Epstein-Maxwell dungeon of sexual hell, but you could never leave.
“Ghislaine by her own hand forced me into Epstein’s room to be raped.”
Meanwhile Ms Stein said she was trafficked to Maxwell, Epstein and their friends.
“I was assaulted, raped and trafficked countless times in New York and Florida during a three-year period,” she said in her statement, of which part was read in court.
“At one point I became pregnant (by whom I am unsure) and aborted the baby.
“Things happened that were so traumatising that to this day I’m unable to speak about them; I don’t even have the vocabulary to describe them.”
Another victim, Teresa Helm, said she was 22 years old when Maxwell “entirely derailed the trajectory” of her life.
“You saw me as an object whose only purpose was to be manipulated, used, abused, regarded as trash, and sent back from where I came.”
A British woman known as ‘Kate’, read part of her statement in court: “The many acts that were perpetrated on me by Epstein, including rape, strangulation and sexual assault, were never consensual and would have never occurred had it not been for the cunning and premeditated role Ghislaine Maxwell played.”
Annie Farmer said in court: “I felt tremendous survivor guilt when I heard what other girls and young women had experienced at the hands of Maxwell and Epstein.
“This toxic combination of being sexually exposed and exploited, feeling confused and naive, blaming myself, all resulted in significant shame.”
A statement considered by the court in written form by victim Maria Farmer said: “I never feel safe outside as a result of the massive trauma from being held captive by Wexner’s thugs via Ghislaine and Jeffrey.
“Her threats have never left my mind and I believe she will harm me if she ever has a way.
“Please keep this in mind when determining her terms of imprisonment. She is a very dangerous and devious individual.”
In writing, Juliette Bryant said Maxwell “is a monster” and thinking about her and Epstein still gives her “frequent panic attacks and night terrors”.
Maxwell’s lawyer, Bobbi C. Sternheim said she acknowledges the victim: “We feel your pain.” She said she hopes the sentence will “give you some solace".
