A woman who was raped, drugged and sexually assaulted in a car by strangers after a night out to celebrate a friend’s birthday says she now fears who she will “collide with” when she goes out.
The woman says she wants others who may have experienced similar attacks to know they are not alone and will be believed if they report it.
On the basis of her evidence, she was awarded £11,000 by The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) despite the fact that even though an investigation is still ongoing, no-one has been charged.
Read more: Securing Criminal Injuries Compensation following rape and sexual abuse
The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was out with friends in East London in the summer of 2021. Later that evening she took up an offer from a friend who suggested they went on to a club together.
“I don’t go out very often and my friend suggested it; I thought it would be a fun thing to do,” she recalled.
After arriving at a venue in the Shoreditch area a man she’d never met before struck up a conversation with them. Later as she danced with her friend, he approached them saying “I’ve been looking for you” and suggested they have drinks.
“He was friendly and we had things in common; I like meeting new people and it seemed we were all just enjoying the evening,” she said.
Read more: Why it is never too late to make a CICA claim after a sexual assault
When she and her friend decided to leave, he came outside with them, “My friend said she would drive me home, but I didn’t want to put her out, so I said don’t worry I’ll get myself an UBER.”
The man offered to call her a taxi himself and as they continued to chat, he said he would be happy to drive her.
“I was sat in the back of his car and we were talking as he drove but then all of a sudden he just changed. He began shouting at me and just stopped the car. I was shouting back and then he said if I didn’t shut up, he would kill me. He said he had a gun and threatened to shoot me,” she said.
After being raped the man offered her a drink. Fearing what he might do if she refused, she took a few sips of what tasted like prosecco and blacked out a few minutes later.
When she awoke partially clothed on the back seat, the man was driving, but there were two more people in the car who she did not know, a second man and a woman, both were sexually assaulting her.
“I managed to find my phone and dialled 999 but it was snatched from me. I thought I might die, I really feared for my life, I began screaming and I opened the car door as it was moving and thought I should just jump,” she said.
The driver stopped the car, and she was thrown out.
Read more: Spiking Incidents and Criminal Injuries, What You Need to Know
“Even now, I can’t understand why they did that to me. I didn’t harm anyone; I didn’t wrong anyone. I was just went out to a party like any other girl and this happened.
“I look back on that night and how it has changed me. I’m so careful and cautious now. I just don’t know who I will collide with if I go out.
“Even when I go to the park I wonder if people are following me or watching me. I even wonder if those people want revenge because I went to the police.”
The Metropolitan Police carried out an investigation which included studying CCTV and although the investigation is not closed, the woman has been told there may not be enough evidence to present to a court.
However, the woman says the process of applying to The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) has been both positive and “empowering”.
The CICA scheme doesn’t require anyone to be convicted of a crime for a victim to be awarded damages, but the crime must be reported to the police, the victim must fully cooperate with any investigation and must also be prepared to press charges.
The CICA are then able to make an award on the balance of probabilities based on the police report and the victim’s cooperation.
After contacting Hudgell Solicitors her case was taken on by litigation executive Laura Wardle, who specialises in criminal injury claims.
“My client is not alone in having experienced a traumatic rape, around 60,000 were recorded by police last year, but less than two per cent of cases result in a suspect being charged.
“However, it was important that she reported it. She has been believed and been listened to and I was determined we should achieve the best possible outcome for her.
“The CICA award cannot take away the trauma she has experienced but it does recognise she was the victim of an abhorrent crime and will have to live with the psychological consequences for a long time.
“She has been incredibly brave and it has been an honour to help her seek the justice she is entitled to.”
Read more: Many victims receive more than £25,000 in CICA awards
The woman says she no longer blames herself for the attack.
“I look back and think ‘I wish I had been more cautious, more careful’ but I’m no longer blaming myself. I was vulnerable.
“I want people to know, if they have experienced anything like I have, then don’t think you are alone. You’re not and you will be believed.
“Laura has been amazing. It has been empowering and she has given me the confidence to see it though. I felt no-one would care, but she has taken it so seriously, and that has made such a difference.
“I don’t know if anyone will be jailed but I was determined to report it, I thought ‘you’re not going to get away with it,’ at least they know who he is and I hope that prevents it happening to anyone else.”
Making a CICA claim
If you or a member of your family has come to harm as a result of crime of violence, you have a right to seek compensation for those injuries. We put your interests first, ensuring the most appropriate and effective legal specialists are handling your claim.
The first step is to get in touch using our online claim form. From here, one of our expert criminal injury lawyers will contact you for a confidential discussion of your circumstances, guiding you on the best path forward.
