This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-40198678
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Assaulted Kent teenager urges rape victims to come forward | Assaulted Kent teenager urges rape victims to come forward |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A teenager who filmed a man as he tried to rape her has urged other victims of sexual assault to report the crimes. | A teenager who filmed a man as he tried to rape her has urged other victims of sexual assault to report the crimes. |
Lillian Constantine was attacked in a street not far from her home in Ramsgate, Kent. | Lillian Constantine was attacked in a street not far from her home in Ramsgate, Kent. |
She managed to record the ordeal on her phone and provided key evidence to secure the conviction of Ashraf Miah, who was jailed for the attack. | She managed to record the ordeal on her phone and provided key evidence to secure the conviction of Ashraf Miah, who was jailed for the attack. |
Miss Constantine, who waived her right to anonymity, described how Miah persisted despite being filmed. | Miss Constantine, who waived her right to anonymity, described how Miah persisted despite being filmed. |
'Absolute maniac' | 'Absolute maniac' |
Talking to the BBC's Today programme, she said: "First of all I flipped the video recording on my phone, and turned the light on as well because it was pitch black where I was and I thought, 'Okay, if he sees I'm recording' - and I screamed at him 'I'm recording you, I'm recording you' - he will run off, it would scare him, he wouldn't want to get caught. | Talking to the BBC's Today programme, she said: "First of all I flipped the video recording on my phone, and turned the light on as well because it was pitch black where I was and I thought, 'Okay, if he sees I'm recording' - and I screamed at him 'I'm recording you, I'm recording you' - he will run off, it would scare him, he wouldn't want to get caught. |
"But he did not care at all. I was so shocked. I was screaming at him, swearing at him, screaming for help. | "But he did not care at all. I was so shocked. I was screaming at him, swearing at him, screaming for help. |
"I thought, this must be an absolute maniac. It was completely barbaric." | "I thought, this must be an absolute maniac. It was completely barbaric." |
Ms Constantine was on her way home from an evening out last year when Miah, of no fixed address, grabbed her. | Ms Constantine was on her way home from an evening out last year when Miah, of no fixed address, grabbed her. |
She said the attack "felt like a lifetime", but eventually her screams alerted residents nearby who switched on their lights, and she managed to fight him off and stumble home. | She said the attack "felt like a lifetime", but eventually her screams alerted residents nearby who switched on their lights, and she managed to fight him off and stumble home. |
Her mother Karen, said: "She was absolutely distressed, distraught. I could see immediately something terrible had happened. | Her mother Karen, said: "She was absolutely distressed, distraught. I could see immediately something terrible had happened. |
"Her make up, the crying, she was incoherent, clothes were all over the place. It was your worst nightmare coming true." | "Her make up, the crying, she was incoherent, clothes were all over the place. It was your worst nightmare coming true." |
The aftermath of the attack was also harrowing, Miss Constantine said. | The aftermath of the attack was also harrowing, Miss Constantine said. |
HIV prevention medication she had to take made her ill, and during police interviews she had to repeatedly go over what happened. | HIV prevention medication she had to take made her ill, and during police interviews she had to repeatedly go over what happened. |
"I got to a point I was absolutely certain I was going to drop the case, I had to do a video interview and give all the gritty details and I just told them to stop, I'm done," she said. | "I got to a point I was absolutely certain I was going to drop the case, I had to do a video interview and give all the gritty details and I just told them to stop, I'm done," she said. |
"I started thinking it was a waste of my time, of my life. I started getting depressed. It consumed my whole life and I just thought, why am I putting myself through this?" | "I started thinking it was a waste of my time, of my life. I started getting depressed. It consumed my whole life and I just thought, why am I putting myself through this?" |
Victims 'supported' | |
Despite that, with support of her friends and family she became determined to get justice and now is encouraging others to do the same. | Despite that, with support of her friends and family she became determined to get justice and now is encouraging others to do the same. |
"You are a victim and a survivor and you need to keep pushing through and see it until the end," she said. | "You are a victim and a survivor and you need to keep pushing through and see it until the end," she said. |
Kent Police said its priority was to treat victims with respect, with investigations being managed by specialist teams working with victim support charities. | |
Det Ch Supt Tom Richards said: "We know this process can be daunting and to ensure they don't go through this alone victims are also referred to an independent sexual violence advisor. | |
"These advisors look after their specific needs and help them understand how the criminal justice process works and supports them through a criminal trial." | |
Miah was found guilty of attempted rape, sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault without penetration. | Miah was found guilty of attempted rape, sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault without penetration. |
He was sentenced on 24 April to nine and a half years in jail, plus another four years on extended licence. | He was sentenced on 24 April to nine and a half years in jail, plus another four years on extended licence. |
Previous version
1
Next version