Sophie | I was raped and the police said it was my fault.

About 14 years ago, I was out with some friends, the last thing I remember was taking a drink, I was drugged I believe, what happened after is hazy, but I remember enough.

A man put his arm around me and led me to a graveyard, where he repeatedly raped me both via vagina and anus. I was paralysed by fear I just lied there. It started to get light so he ran away. I was left half naked, still a little drugged, I did not have my handbag, so no phone, money or anything.

I remember walking the 4 miles home crying as I was in shock, I got home looking dishevelled, in tears, but I didn’t tell my mum as she answered the door, I went up in my room to take off the clothes I was wearing, I fell asleep, and when I woke up I got dressed and went to a friends house, and I broke down telling her what happened, we called the police and a female officer came in, she asked me what I was wearing, how much I had drunk, what I was doing, and she told me to not drink so much next time, and that she doubted that it would be investigated, and it wasn’t investigated at all.
It was my fault I got raped.

After that I went home and finally confided to my mum, she hugged me, and asked if I wanted to call the police again, and I just said no, what is the point, they think it’s my fault.


Constabulary: Thames Valley Police


Timespan: 14 years ago


Did you report it to the police?: Yes


Your ethnicity: White British


Have you experienced suicidality due to this?: Attempted suicide more than once


Are you disabled as defined under the Equality Act 2010?: Yes

Image by Danny Noble

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