The survivor of the highly publicized case involving rapist Tom Silvagni has come forward to share the profound impact the legal proceedings have had on her life.
For legal reasons, the woman remains anonymous but has chosen to speak out to offer support and reassurance to fellow sexual assault survivors. She wants them to know that experiencing a wide range of emotions during such a tumultuous time is completely normal.
In December, the Victorian County Court sentenced 23-year-old Silvagni to a maximum of six years and two months in prison, with a non-parole period of three years and three months, after he was found guilty on two counts of rape.
The assault occurred on January 14, 2024, inside a bedroom at the Silvagni family mansion, owned by his well-known parents, football icon Stephen Silvagni and television presenter Jo Silvagni.
Currently, Silvagni is appealing his conviction while being held at the Melbourne Assessment Prison, awaiting further developments in his case.
This week, the victim revealed that she had initially remained silent after the sentencing due to legal constraints. However, she noted that many of her recent supporters are also survivors of sexual assault, which has prompted her to break her silence.
‘I’m here to share how I’m feeling, because hopefully it’s something you’ll be able to relate to.’
The victim said she had been ‘crashing out’ while she steels herself to ‘move on’.
Tom Silvagni, 23, was sentenced in the Victorian County Court in December to a maximum six years and two months
The victim broke her social media silence
Tom’s famous parents Jo and Stephen Silvagni leave court in December
‘I know my socials might look like I’m going out all the time having fun and trying to continue my life, that does not mean I don’t have moments like this,’ she said.
‘It’s been two months, maybe just over, since I guess the trial finished and got a verdict and a sentencing. That all happened really quickly, so that was all just a whirlwind, all very surreal.
‘You know, it’s done basically, move on, you know, live life, enjoy this feeling of some sort of justice.
‘However, it is not that easy and that’s what I want to share to anyone that’s watching this that may be in the same shoes as me, because I know that will probably bring a little bit of comfort to show this is how it feels.’
She told followers her ‘brain physically cannot process’ that Silvagni was found guilty and sentenced, adding it would ‘probably take a while’ before she could fully absorb the outcome.
‘It’s been two months after and I still feel so like mentally drained and exhausted from everything, like as bad as it felt in the middle of it all, so I’m just making this video because I just want you to know that if you’re feeling the same, it is normal,’ she said.
‘I’ve only just gone back to work like a month ago and I’m exhausted, I’m not even working that much, I’m working as a casual, exhausted, everything just seems tens time more energy draining.
‘I know I haven’t spoken too much about it on socials, obviously for legal reasons, because it’s technically still going on, it’s not fully concluded, so like I probably won’t talk to much but I don’t see any harm in sharing moments like this to my social media.
Silvagni is in custody at the Melbourne Assessment Prison
Dad Stephen was a champion footballer for Carlton
‘This is the aftermath and it is still low-key as draining as it was when I was in the midst of everything, so I just wanna share this update with you guys.
‘I feel so mentally drained but then the other part of me is like … get over it, move on, get back to work.
‘I’m sorry if you are unfortunately one day in this position, but I hope, if you are, then this might bring you some comfort.’
Silvagni was found guilty after the court heard the victim had arrived at the Balwyn North house shortly after midnight, after she was invited there by the accused’s girlfriend.
A drinking session had taken place earlier, but by 12.23am only Silvagni, his model girlfriend Alannah Iaconis and his former best friend, Anthony LoGuidice, with whom the victim was in a casual sexual relationship, were still present.
The jury heard the victim, who also spoke out last month, had consensual sex with Mr LoGuidice in an upstairs bedroom.
At 1.58am, Mr LoGuidice, a close relation of former Carlton president Mark LoGuidice, left in an Uber, arriving at his home at 2.09am.
Silvagni then deceived the woman, falsely claiming Mr LoGuidice’s Uber had been cancelled and that he would be returning upstairs.
Jo Silvagni (nee Bailey) gained fame as the co-host of Sale of the Century
Tom (middle) with his brothers Ben (left) and current AFL footballer Jack (right)
His victim had classed herself as a friend of Silvagni and had been seeing his mate.
Instead, Silvagni entered the darkened bedroom himself, climbed into the bed and impersonated Mr LoGuidice before digitally raping the woman twice.
Silvagni sat in his prison greens and stared as Judge Greg Lyon detailed, during December’s sentencing, the vileness of the rapes.
Judge Lyons said Silvagni used ‘cunning, planning and strategy’ to deceive the victim once the ‘opportunity’ to rape her had ‘arisen’.
You committed the second rape over her protests…,’ Judge Lyon said.
‘You tried to encourage your friend Anthony to take responsibility… your conduct towards the victim was egregious.
Judge Lyon also said Silvagni hadn’t shown remorse and said his treatment of his lifelong friend LoGuidice was ‘utterly appalling’.
Silvagni blamed his mental health issues on stress caused by being charged with rape and the Covid lockdowns.
Stephen and Jo in happier times
Silvagni also said he felt ‘hopeless’ and ‘suicidal’ when comparing his football talent to his dad and his two brothers, especially Jack who played for Carlton before joining St Kilda at the end of the 2025 season.
He blamed the Covid pandemic for curtailing his dreams of playing in the AFL but a local footballer told the Daily Mail he was never good enough to make the big time.
Silvagni also claimed he has suffered more because his parents are famous.
Judge Lyon also praised widespread media reporting of Silvagni’s case as ‘objective’ and ‘accurate’ before jailing the rapist for a maximum six years and two months with a non-parole period of three years and three months.
