A young woman has publicly thanked her supporters after the man who raped her, Tom Silvagni, was sentenced to six years and two months in prison. The 23-year-old, son of AFL great Stephen Silvagni and TV personality Jo Silvagni, was found guilty on two counts of rape this week in the Victorian County Court.
The Attack and Court Verdict
The assault took place in a bedroom at the Silvagni family mansion on January 14, 2024. The victim, a woman in her 20s whom the Daily Mail has chosen not to name, was attacked by Silvagni. Following the guilty verdict and sentencing, she took to TikTok to share her feelings with those who had stood by her.
"Thank you everyone for the insane amount of support," her post began. She described the court's decision as not just a personal victory, but a source of hope for other survivors. "I will never forget the feeling of hearing the judge validate and retell my story...as I told it (truth) before he handed down his sentence," she wrote.
Family's Reaction and Planned Appeal
The legal battle may not be over, as Silvagni's family has vowed to appeal the conviction. His father, Stephen Silvagni, spoke emotionally outside court, stating, "We all love and support our son Tom. Our son continues to maintain his innocence and we stand firmly behind him."
He confirmed the family would be considering their options for an appeal, with the goal of clearing his son's name. "We shall not be making any further comments on this case. Our goal is to clear his name and bring him home," he added.
Calling Out a Double Standard
The case has highlighted a perceived double standard in how society treats male and female victims of sexual assault. Reuben Williams, a man who was sexually assaulted by a former Cricket Australia communications boss in 2019, has spoken out in support of Silvagni's victim.
In an Instagram clip, Williams criticised the online backlash the woman has faced. "I've been following the comments about the Silvagni rape victim...and what she is doing is spreading awareness," he said. He pointed out that when he posted about his own case, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, whereas the female victim has been told to "move on" and accused of attention-seeking.
"The backlash she has received is straight up sexism," Williams stated. He praised her bravery, saying, "She is doing an exceptional job and could end up saving lives by (bravely) telling her story." His attacker, Timothy Whittaker, was found guilty but spared jail.
The case continues to draw significant public attention, underscoring ongoing conversations about justice, victim support, and gender bias in sexual assault cases.
