New member disappointed with the authorities

[Masteredhero]

Hi
I divorced my husband (detail removed by moderator) years ago following domestic violence which I only had him prosecuted for on one occasion. I called the police during the divorce due to him raping me. In the end I could not go through with helping the police because I was terrified of him. The police told me I could change my mind at any time even years down the line. I moved on and remarried. In (detail removed by moderator) he was sentenced to (detail removed by moderator) years in prison for statutory rape of a child. In (detail removed by moderator) I walked into a police station and asked them to reopen my case as I am now willing to give evidence. I was met with some scornful remarks like “surely this was dealt with years ago!” but I persivered. I did a video interview, I signed a consent form to say they could access my medical records. They interviewed him in prison recently and he denied everything. So now over 1 year after walking into a police station I have been told there will be no further action due to the evidential threshold not being met. So it was all for nothing. I just wanted to know that I’ve done my best for next time he hurts somebody. Thank you for reading x

[AlwaysSorry]

Hi there MH,

I’m so sorry you had to go through that but I am in awe of your bravery to go back into that police station after the time had passed. Well done for overcoming your fear and sticking to it even when met with such hurtful and unhelpful comments! Please praise yourself for sticking to it.
I know they have to complete a test in order to charge and that the evidentiary burden is the first step, but I also believe there is something called the victim’s right to review scheme where you can ask that the decision not to charge be revisited to check if it was the right call or not. It might be something you would want to consider.
I will say again that you have certainly done your best. Not many would have found the courage to go back and see it through. Even if no charge and subsequent conviction came of it, you certainly did your best.

[KIP.]

You have done your best.your statement is now officially on file and can be used as corroboration should other victims come forward. I’m really surprised that you were not questioned when he was investigated over the rape he was convicted of. The police questioned my rapists ex partners and I would be more interested in why you weren’t contacted since they should have had your previous statement? You did a very brave thing. You often see women report rape then the previous partners admit they were raped too and he’s charged with more than one rape.

[Iwantmeback]

Hi I just want you to know that what you did was very brave, it takes so much courage to walk into a police station and open up something that’s been hidden fir years. Pursue this if you feel you can deal with it, if not that’s okay too but at least it’s on record now. If in the future any more women come forward, yours is just more evidence showing what kind of a man he is. Some battles we lose even when the war is won. Be kind to yourself, you did it. Well done my friend.
IWMB 💞💞

[maddog]

Well done for reporting the rape. A No Further Action really isn’t the end of the world. As KIP says, if anyone else comes forward your statement will be important evidence.

I am much younger than my ex. If he goes for someone even younger he will look like a cradle snatcher. I expect he’s past it. Maybe not.

It’s so important to report these things. Even if there isn’t a prosecution there is a record, and one day hopefully the law will change.

[Masteredhero]

Thank you for the replies and especially for saying I might have made a difference. The no further action decision is still sinking in. I have no criminal record and he has a long list of convictions so I thought that might be enough to take the case to court and have my say. I feel responsible for his latest crime because I didn’t comply with the police at the time. I know he will hurt somebody else in the future and I hope that I won’t feel and guilt for it now that I have done my best. I suppose I was not contacted about his latest offence because he ended up pleading guilty after police retrieved a lot of deleted evidence from his phone. He always said to me that I am worthless and nobody will believe me (detail removed by moderator) (or cross him as he says) I feel like the NFA is confirmation of what he always said to me. My sexual harm advisor has visited today and explained the victims right to review. I am 90 percent sure I don’t want to put myself through the trauma of trying… It would feel to me like I’m pressuring the police to change their minds if that makes sense. He does have a conviction of beating and strangling me, and with him being imprisoned for child abuse I really thought I would get a chance to put my side across (detail removed by moderator). I have learned a lot about the system recently and about the low statistics of rape convictions. It makes me sad for victims of domestic violence x

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