Survivor of Actor’s Abuse Says Sentence Falls Short After Years of Trauma
Woman abused by Sex Education actor – Rogan Taylor, who endured multiple years of mistreatment at the hands of performer Alexander Westwood, has publicly stated that the punishment handed down does not adequately reflect the severity of what occurred. The actor, known for roles in both Sex Education and Doctors, received a fifteen-year prison term in February 2025 following his conviction on twenty-six separate offenses involving children.
Among the charges were sexual assault of a young boy beneath ten years of age, alongside two adolescent students he taught acting to. One of these teenagers was subjected to rape on no fewer than three separate occasions during their time together.
A Relationship That Turned Toxic
Taylor, currently twenty-four years old and having chosen to waive her anonymity, entered into a romantic relationship with Westwood in November 2018 when she was seventeen. He initially won her over through what she described as “love bombing,” presenting her with numerous gifts and making grand romantic gestures. Almost immediately, he purchased tickets to West End theatre performances as part of these displays of affection.
“I still have nightmares,” Taylor shared, describing Westwood as a “disgusting monster” after learning he had four additional victims beyond herself.
By 2021, when Westwood was twenty-five, the abuse escalated into sexual territory. Despite Taylor clearly refusing, he would penetrate her with his fingers while restraining her and instructing her to remain still. She eventually had to bite him and push him away to escape his grip. Their partnership concluded the following year.
“In court, I said: ‘You ruined my life, for the rest of my life, you’ve traumatised me for life,'” Taylor recounted to PA.
Life After the Abuse
The couple relocated together after merely ten months of dating, shortly after Taylor’s eighteenth birthday. Westwood surprised her with a puppy during this period, but domestic tensions soon emerged. Taylor noted that arguments frequently arose over household responsibilities, with Westwood being messy and inconsiderate. When he did complete chores, he employed what she termed “malicious compliance,” such as washing dishes inside the shower.
One particularly memorable incident occurred at a train station, where Westwood screamed and shouted at Taylor to such an extent that police were summoned, though she chose not to file charges. The verbal aggression became nearly daily, and he would strike her on the head with his gaming controller whenever he lost a match.
The cumulative effect of this treatment led Taylor to experience panic attacks, attempt suicide, and engage in self-harm. She described the fear she felt as “visceral” and profoundly damaging, noting that it made her feel as though she was not even a person permitted to give consent.
“I still can’t believe something like this happened to me. I take sleep medication because I still have nightmares…he’s a disgusting monster,” Taylor explained.
Court Proceedings and Aftermath
Taylor remained silent for some time, feeling trapped within the relationship because Westwood was so closely connected to her family. In 2022, she finally ended things after uncovering allegations from another victim, whom she characterized as a “master manipulator.” When she began dating again in 2023, her new partner informed her that her past experiences were both “not normal” and “illegal,” motivating her to contact law enforcement.
After publicly sharing her story on social media, Taylor faced an overwhelming wave of criticism from strangers online. The following year, police contacted her to confirm they were constructing a case, and Taylor expressed astonishment at how young some of the victims had been.
Westwood reportedly displayed no regret during proceedings at Wolverhampton Crown Court, even smirking from the dock. Taylor admitted she “cried a lot” while being cross-examined. The court learned that abuse toward his first victim commenced when she was six and he was ten, with prosecutor Andrew Wallace noting this initiated years of “the normalisation of sexual abuse,” which encompassed breast touching and forcing her to watch pornography.
Additionally, Westwood encouraged a ten-year-old boy to touch himself as part of a “game” when he himself was eighteen. Judge Chawla ordered Westwood to serve at least two-thirds of his fifteen-and-a-half-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole, alongside four years on license. A twenty-six-year restraining order prevents him from contacting all five victims, and he remains subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the identical duration.
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person, or go to the Samaritans website. PAPYRUS offers specialised suicide prevention support for young people. Their HOPELINE247 is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. You can call 0800 068 4141, text 88247, or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org.
