Justice On Trial

Rape case juror reveals: It was horrific to see what this poor woman was put through on the stand and as a result I will never report the man who attacked me

- Jennifer Hyland

A juror has claimed that witnessing the treatment of a rape victim in court stopped her reporting her own sex attacker to police.

Amanda, 25, who has asked for her surname to be withheld, was one of 15 jury members who served on a rape trial earlier this year.

The trial, which was heard in the north of Scotland, involved a man charged with two rapes and an assault against his former partner.

The jury returned a verdict of not proven.

However, Amanda said the “horrific” treatment she saw the victim subjected to as she gave evidence has prevented her from contacting police.

Six weeks after the trial, Amanda was raped.

She has admitted that she is prepared to let her attacker go free because she fears going through the same ordeal in the witness box.

She said: “It was horrific to see what this poor woman was put through and, as a result, I’ll never report the man who raped me.

“I was attacked six weeks after that case and it’s because I saw that woman being ripped apart on the stand that I’ll never come forward.