Rape victims left suicidal by repeated court delays

RAPE and sexual abuse victims are left suicidal by delays of up to eight years in bringing their cases to court, a report by the charity Rape Crisis has found.

The number of victims facing multiple postponements of trials has more than doubled, which only adds to their trauma, according to the charity.

On average, delays once a case is listed for trial have increased by 53 per cent since 2019 to 380 days before completion, meaning the average wait for a rape victim from the point they report it to police to sentencing is now 2.3 years or 839 days, according to official data.

However, the charity has highlighted cases – including one interviewed by The Daily Telegraph – where victims have had to wait longer including one delay of eight years involving a child sex victim. She has since decided to abandon the prosecution, leaving her alleged perpetrator a free man.

The charity cited the case of Maria who spent five weeks receiving specialist hospital treatment for life-changing injuries after a suicide attempt. Her case had been postponed three times – in Sept 2020, Sept 2021 and Oct 2022.

She was the victim of a multiple rapist who this year was found guilty on all counts. However, as the family waited for sentencing they were left in the same room as the perpetrator’s parents.

Maria’s mother said: “I was verbally attacked several times by this mother. I understand she was upset, but so was I. I felt unprotected by the court.”

Her daughter struggles to sleep after her experience and self-harms.

The backlog of sexual offence cases has risen by 800 to 7,859 in the year to Sept 2022, while for adult rape cases, it has risen by 200 to 1,851, according to Ministry of Justice (MOJ) data.

The MOJ said there had been “real improvements” with a 50 per cent rise in rape cases referred to the CPS, a 54 per cent increase in charges and a 65 per cent jump in convictions.

“But we know more needs to be done,” said an MOJ spokesman.