‘Rape victim’ still waiting for justice FIVE years on

A WOMAN who has waited five years for justice after being allegedly raped at 15 has had her case further delayed.

The rape was first reported in October 2017 and the trial against the alleged attacker, a man in his 30s, was finally due to start on October 31.

The trial has now been postponed to February after the judge could not attend due to a court clash and a prosecuting lawyer and a key witness could not make a rearranged trial a week later.

Problems in gathering third party evidence, the pandemic and changes in officers handling the case have contributed to the delay.

Crime commentator Danny Shaw wrote on his blog: ‘The impact of the delays on the alleged victim, who is now in her 20s, is hard to imagine.’