Bravery of victim as she confronts rapist in court

WOMAN TELLS HIM: 'I AM THE PERSON YOU HURT, AND I NEED YOU TO HEAR IT FROM ME TO FACE THE PAIN YOU CAUSED'

- By JOSEPH ΤΙΜΑΝ

A WOMAN bravely faced the man who raped her years ago as he was jailed.

Andre Reid, 26, of Woodside Street, Tameside was sentenced to seven years for rape at Manchester Crown Court on Friday.

A restraining order was also issued prohibiting Reid from contacting the woman.

He was arrested and charged after the woman came forward to report the attack, which happened in the late 2010s.

Standing up in court to read her impact statement, she said she wanted to encourage other victims to speak out.

She told Reid: "I've chosen to stand here and read this to you myself. My voice has been taken from me.

"I have carried the weight of what you did in silence. You need to hear the impact of your choices in my own words, in my own voice.

"Because I am the person you hurt, and I need you to hear it from me to face the pain you caused, the fear you left behind, and the way my life changed because of you.