WHEN she booked herself in for a tattoo, Geicy Watson* couldn’t wait for her new ink.

       The restaurant hostess, 38, travelled to a studio in Wembley, London, where she met tattoo artist and body piercer Dewel Dos Santos, 38.

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       Geicy Watson booked herself in for tattoos with Dewel Dos Santos on a friend's recommendation Credit: True Life Stories 12

       Geicy suffered a horrendous ordeal which saw her pass out during the tattoo process - and wake to find the artist raping her Credit: True Life Stories

       But as he began etching symbols on Geicy’s fingers, the session took a sinister turn.

       After blacking out, Geicy woke to find Santos raping her - a harrowing ordeal which has left her with physical and mental scars, and a chilling permanent reminder on her hand.

       She reported the predator, who was subsequently found guilty of rape and sentenced to 13 years for the horrific attack.

       Now Geicy has bravely waived her anonymity in a bid to raise awareness for sexual assault survivors.

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       Geicy, from London, tells The Sun: “That day I was meant to be safe. But Dewal exploited and abused my trust in the most horrific way.

       “My tattoos are a constant reminder of it. I’m speaking out to help other women know that they are never alone, and they shouldn’t be ashamed of what they’ve gone through.

       "Please don’t struggle in silence and get the help you need.”

       In October 2020, tattoo-lover Geicy was working in central London as a barista at a café.

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       She says: “I saw a friend’s photo online and saw she had a new piercing. I felt jealous as I really missed my old face piercings from years before.

       “I told her I wanted to get my septum and mouth done, so she sent me a link to a man’s Instagram page, called ‘DW piercings and tattoos’ which she’d gone to.

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       “He had a good deal on - three piercings for ￡60 - so I booked an appointment.”

       That week Geicy visited Santos’ studio and says he seemed very friendly.

       She recalls: “He’d just finished a woman’s tattoo then waved me over. He got the piercing gun out and we chatted a little.

       “I had 10 tattoos already, and showed him one which was a skull. I told him how much I loved skulls, witchcraft, energy healing and other eccentric things.

       “He was very kind, and touchy. I thought he might be gay as he had a similar demeanour to my gay friends.

       “He did my septum and mouth, but as the deal was for three piercings, he asked if I wanted more.

       “I told him I couldn’t because of work, so he offered to do my nipple.

       “I politely declined, agreed to paid him ￡40 instead and went home.”

       Inappropriate 12

       Geicy has bravely waived her anonymity in a bid to raise awareness for sexual assault survivors Credit: True Life Stories 12

       Dewel Dos Santos was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 13 years for the horrific attack Credit: True Life Stories 12

       Geicy after her two piercings from Santos Credit: True Life Stories

       The next day Geicy scrolled through Santos’ tattoo work online and loved his designs.

       She got back in touch and booked herself in for a tattoo the following Saturday.

       But on the Friday night Santos messaged, informing her he’d had a cancellation and inviting her to the parlour.

       Geicy says: “As I arrived I told him I wanted finger tattoos with different symbols.

       He was very kind, and touchy. I thought he might be gay as he had a similar demeanour to my gay friends

       Geicy Watson

       “We both went through photos together and I showed him the designs I liked.

       “Suddenly Dewal poured some white wine into two glasses. I was really nervous about the tattoos hurting, so I accepted.

       "I quickly went to the loo, then came back in and drank it all.

       “Dewal put some anaesthetic cream on my fingers and as we waited for it to kick in, he put some music on and began talking.

       “He told me about him missing his ex-wife and daughter. It was then I realised he wasn’t gay.

       “He presented a skull necklace for me that he’d bought. He said it had reminded him of me.

       “Taken aback, I wasn’t sure if he was hitting on me, or if I was being paranoid. But he said he wanted to get to know me better.

       “I told him sternly that I wasn’t interested and he dropped it. He started finally tattooing me, finger by finger.”

       Shocking rise in drink spiking

       Last year it was reported cops were dealing with more than 100 cases of drink and needle-spiking every week as reports of the crime hit record levels.

       Victims have been sexually and physically assaulted, robbed and left dangerously ill after having drugs slipped into their drink or sneakily jabbed into them.

       Commonly the victim will appear drunk and confused, making it easier for the criminals to take advantage of them.

       There were 4,938 logs relating to drink-spiking in 2022, up from 3,923 the year before.

       Records show officers also dealt with more than 1,213 needle-spiking cases last year, up from 511 in 2021.

       But both figures may be a huge underestimate of the scale of the crime as 13 of the 44 police forces in England and Wales were unable to provide figures for the Freedom of Information Act survey.

       The Centre for Crime Prevention called the increase “deeply troubling” and said ministers need to take it seriously.

       Shocking attack 12

       When Santos became over-friendly, Geicy told him she wasn't interested Credit: True Life Stories 12

       Geicy's right hand when she got home after being raped Credit: True Life Stories

       But as Santos was tattooing Geicy, she began to feel strange and ended up passing out.

       When she next opened her eyes, Santos was on top of her.

       Geicy says: “He was raping me. My eyes were so heavy and I couldn’t lift my arms.

       “He moaned that he knew I liked it. I tried to push him off and kept saying no, but I again blacked out.

       He moaned that he knew I liked it. I tried to push him off and kept saying no, but I again blacked out

       Geicy Watson

       “When I managed to open my eyes again Dewal was still on top of me. He was saying dirty things again.

       “I wanted to scream for help but I ended up blacking out again.”

       The next time Geicy woke up Santos was asleep on the sofa, so she mustered the strength to get up, find her belongings and flee.

       Geicy says: “Dewal messaged me to say he was sorry and that he knew he’d screwed up. I was disorientated and went the wrong way home.

       “Eventually I made it but my brain wasn’t working. In shock, I went straight to bed and stayed there for days.”

       'In denial' 12

       Geicy's hands now with her unfinished tattoos Credit: True Life Stories

       Later that week Geicy bravely texted a friend what had happened and they urged her to go to the hospital.

       Geicy says: “I listened, and told the nurses when I arrived that I needed help because I’d been raped.

       “They gave me injections and medicine for HIV, hepatitis and other sexually transmitted diseases.

       “After, a doctor told me if I didn’t report Dewal, he’d do it again to another woman. I’d been in denial, but I knew he was right.

       “Feeling terrified and ashamed, I let them call the police for me. I was then interviewed by police officers and told them everything.”

       One hand was smudged and looked like prison tattoos. The other side was unfinished, from when he’d clearly began to rape me

       Geicy Watson

       Days later Santos was arrested at his studio and although Geicy had no sexually transmitted diseases, forensics found his semen on her underwear.

       Geicy says: “As I waited for the trial I fell into a deep depression. I became a recluse, and never left the house.

       “I lost my job and lots of my hair. I put on three-and-a-half stone and my memory became impaired.

       “On top of everything, I was stuck looking at Dewal’s tattoos on my fingers.

       “One hand was smudged and looked like prison tattoos. The other side was unfinished, from when he’d clearly began to rape me.

       “Every time I looked at them, it brought me back.”

       'Survivor' 12

       Geicy bravely texted a friend what had happened and they urged her to go to the hospital Credit: True Life Stories 12

       Santos was arrested days later at his studio Credit: True Life Stories

       In October 2022, Dewal Dos Santos Silva, 38, of High Road, Wembley, was found guilty of raping Geicy at Harrow Crown Court.

       The next month, in November 2022, he was sentenced to 13 years.

       Geicy says: “No time would ever be enough for what he’d done to me. I’ve started therapy and have realised that I wasn’t dealing with my feelings properly.

       “My tattoos are a constant reminder of everything. I’m still saving money to get them lasered off.

       “I’ve since got a new job and am on the mend.

       “I want to reach out to other sexual abuse survivors and let them know they don’t have to deal with it all on their own. They can get justice too, and get help.

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       “You are not a victim, you are a survivor. You should never be ashamed.”

       *Names have been changed.

       How you can get help

       Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:

       Always keep your phone nearby. Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine. If you are in danger, call 999. Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”. Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare. If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone. Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space. If you are a -victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support -service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk. Women’s Aid provides a live chat service - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm. You can also call the freephone 24-hour -National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

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       Geicy is saving money to get the tattoos lasered off Credit: True Life Stories 12

       Santos is now in prison Credit: Metropolitan Police/True Life Stories