One of the people we’ve helped to cope after crime is Trixie (not her real name), who was assaulted and raped by a man on her journey home.
“I was travelling on a train at around 10pm after playing a rugby match. The train was quite empty; there was a man on the same train. I didn’t take much notice of him at the time. I got off the train at my stop, and he also got off. He looked ill and told me that he didn’t feel well. I went over to him to see if there was anything I could do to help, as I do not like the thought of not helping people in need. On the deserted platform, I was alone with this man. He then grabbed me, dragged me to the end of the platform and viciously attacked and raped me. This ordeal went on for 30 minutes. I remember the trains passing through the station. I was thinking, ‘Surely these people can see what is happening to me?’
“It was the worst experience of my life. I had one chance to escape when he was distracted by a train pulling into the station. He told me he was going to throw me onto the tracks, so I knew I had to get away. I ran without my trainers on up to a lady, who called for the police. I was very badly injured. The police came and arrested the man.
“I then went through the experience of the police gathering evidence from me. I felt numb. I gave my video statement, still not believing what had happened to me and how this had affected my life. The attack has left me with injuries including now being profoundly deaf. For weeks I felt so sad, numb and wanted to end my life.
“I was referred to Victim Support, who made contact with me. It was the first time someone was there for me, listening to me and being so understanding. I was able to talk about the event but also, I was able to ask the questions I had; the human one to one interaction was just what I needed. I was able to talk to my support worker about anything I wanted to, even the little things, like what I was going to wear to court, was I reacting normally to what had happened to me. I was able to express myself as a person and how I felt, and also how I was going to feel for the next few months before the trial. I didn’t feel like a piece of evidence anymore. I knew someone was there for me, and understood what I was going through, reliving it over and over again.
“If it wasn’t for Victim Support, I can honestly say I would not be here now, I had considered ending it all so many times. I felt so isolated and cut off from the rest of the world. I didn’t know how to cope sometimes, and would do things that I wouldn’t have done before, ignoring the consequences, as I just felt like I was in a bubble.
“He has taken my hearing and my life as I knew it. I felt like damaged goods, and can’t function how I used to. My whole life has changed and it is going to take so long to get my life back.
“Although I have a long journey ahead and it will never go away, together with Victim Support I have been given the opportunity and support to have my voice heard, which was taken away on that night. This has made me a stronger person and even at my weakest times, there was always someone there to show me something positive.
“I wanted to tell my story, as no matter how big or small a crime may seem, the trauma will affect everybody differently and Victim Support will be there to show you the way to accept, adapt and express your emotions and how it has affected your life, moving toward the future.”
