Sex attacker who assaulted backpacker after cliff plunge in Thailand is jailed for just five years – as her mother slams ‘dismal’ sentence
The victim's parents have slammed the soft sentence after it was halved because he pleaded guilty
A SEX attacker who brutally assaulted a backpacker after she fell 150ft down a cliff in Thailand while fleeing him has been jailed for five years.
Hannah Gavios, 23, broke her back and lay helpless trapped on rocks while Apai Ruangwong, 28, subjected her to a ten-hour ordeal.
She was rescued the next morning on September 2 but had lost all feeling in her legs - and is still in hospital in New York having physiotherapy.
Twisted Ruangwong was sentenced to ten years earlier this month but that was halved after he pleaded guilty to the obscene behaviour and causing serious injury.
Hannah's mother Gwen - who is currently raising money for her medical care - has slammed the soft sentence.
She said: ''I am dismayed that it is automatically cut down to five years because of a guilty plea.''
Gwen said that Hannah will suffer the consequences of the attack ''for the rest of her life''.
Hannah still has no feeling in her ankles, feet and backside and is now learning to walk again with crutches and leg braces.
She had been teaching English in Vietnam when she took a holiday to Thailand's Railay Beach in the resort of Krabi where she arrived on September 1.
She became lost on the pitch-black beach and went into a local tourist shop asking for help back to her hotel.
Hired-help worker Ruangwong offered to show her the way but instead led her into the jungle where they started climbing a mountain.
Hannah, who was still tired after arriving in Thailand just the day before, innocently followed him before realising she was in danger.
The man pinned her down and tried to rip off her clothes - but brave Hannah fought back and bit off part of his ear.
She then fled but blindly ran off the edge of a cliff.
The American fractured her spine and smashed her head on the way down before she landed crippled at the bottom of the cliff.
But the nightmare wasn't over because Ruangwong scrambled after her and sexually molested her for several hours as she lay helpless.
After a couple of hours, Ruangwong left but then returned later with other people who raised the alarm.
Hannah was rescued and taken to hospital.
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She said at the time: ''I honestly thought I was going to die.
''I hit my head a few times and landed on a big bump. I was screaming in pain. It was the most painful thing ever,.
''I felt like a total vegetable. I felt completely vulnerable. I couldn't move anything.
''I was stuck with this crazy person. I was in the woods in the bushes with wild snakes crawling on me while he was still continuing to harass me. He got on top of me. He took off his pants and masturbated on me.
''He didn't rape me but he did everything else.''
Her mother Gwen and father Aaron have already spent thousands visiting Hannah at her bedside and now need to raise up to £164,311 to help her walk again - expenses not covered by her insurance.
Gwen added: ''We're raising funds to pay for medical bills, medical equipment, psychotherapy, and physical therapy which will not be fully covered by our insurance company.
''Hannah's recovery period is expected to last up to two years or more, and many of the expenses, such as physical therapy will not be covered after several months.
''We may have to make changes to our home, including a remodelling of our bathroom to accommodate Hannah's disabilities. We are expecting out of pocket costs to be at least £41,071 and could be as much as £164,311.
''We have an immediate need for these funds as we have already incurred significant out of pocket costs.
''It is so meaningful to us that our family and friends want to help us in our time of need. We are forever grateful to anyone who wants to help.''
Somchai Buakiri, a provincial prosecutor in Krabi, said the verdict will become final after 30 days.
To donate towards Hannah's medical costs visit her GoFundMe page at
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