‘It was agony’: Survivors of rape and sexual assault waiting years for cases to be heard in court, charity says

Published

8 months ago

October 10, 2024

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Delays in the court system are leading to survivors of sexual violence experiencing suicidal thoughts and being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, a new report has found.

The Criminal Bar Association says the backlog of criminal cases is on track to reach 80,000 by March 2025.

Survivors of rape and sexual violence are among those waiting the longest for their cases to be heard. On average, it takes them two years to get to trial from the moment of charge, according to the Criminal Bar Association.

Exactly half of the cases analysed by the charity Victim Support for their new report waited three years or more from the point of reporting to the police to the first court date.

The delay is prolonging distress for survivors, some of who have made suicide attempts whilst going through the court process.

But even once given a trial date, there’s no guarantee it will go ahead, with survivors telling Sky News often they would only find out the day before – or even on the day – that it was not going to be heard.

The charity found 47% of cases it assessed were adjourned, often with no explanation.

‘I ended up crying for four solid hours’

Emmy Hemmins had to wait five years and 11 months for her case to go to trial.

It was postponed eight times. She says the wait was traumatic.

“It was agony,” Ms Hemmins told Sky News. “It just got to the point where I kept saying to my court therapist, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore’ – and she kept saying, ‘give it a week and see if you still feel that way’.

“Leading up to each trial date, I’d be very anxious, constantly feeling nauseous, I wouldn’t have an appetite, I wouldn’t be sleeping very well and sometimes multiple times a day, I’d have panic attacks.”

The build-up of going back and forth to court took its toll on Ms Hemmins physically and mentally.

“On the days I thought it was going ahead, I’d really gotten ready for it, tried to hype myself up.

“I had all this adrenaline going, and then because it wouldn’t happen, it didn’t have anywhere else to go but turn into an anxiety attack, and I would just cry.

“I think it was the fifth time it was postponed – three days later, I had to go to the dentist and I ended up crying for a solid four hours without stopping because a few days beforehand it was meant to happen, but it didn’t.

“That was probably the longest I’ve ever cried. It was non-stop.”

Ms Hemmins credits her “patient and understanding” mother for the reason she didn’t give up on her case.

Her mother, the officer in her case and her court therapist stuck by her: “They always made the time to try and be positive for me because I felt like I couldn’t.”

Many survivors do walk away from prosecutions because of the delays.

‘Distressing and inordinate delay’

Ms Hemmins’ trial eventually went ahead at the beginning of the year. The accused was found not guilty.

Soon after, Ms Hemmins unusually received a letter from the judge in her case who acknowledged the prolonged wait for justice.

The letter, seen by Sky News, admits she “had to suffer [an] emotionally distressing and inordinate delay.”

The delays to Ms Hemmins’ case, prompted the judge to “conduct a proper review of the ‘priority’ listing arrangements” at the local Crown Court.

The Ministry of Justice told us: “The government inherited a crisis in our criminal justice system and a Crown Court backlog at record levels.

“We are committed to addressing the backlog, with a particular focus on how we prioritise fast-tracking rape cases.”

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

UK

Air India plane crash: Only survivor thought he was ‘going to die’

Published

7 hours ago

June 13, 2025

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Air India plane crash: Only survivor thought he was 'going to die'

The only survivor of the Air India plane crash says he thought he was “going to die”.

Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national, managed to walk away from the wreckage. He was “disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body… but he seems to be out of danger”, according to a doctor who examined him.

There had been 242 people on board flight AI171 when it came down. Among the passengers and crew on the Gatwick-bound aircraft were 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian national.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a doctors’ hostel in a residential area on Thursday, moments after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, in western India.

India plane crash: Follow live updates

Vidhi Chaudhary, a senior police officer in Ahmedabad, said Mr Ramesh was sat in seat 11A, located next to an emergency exit, and “managed to escape by jumping out the emergency door”.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Ramesh said he “still can’t believe” he survived.

He said he thought he “was also going to die” but he then “opened [his] eyes”.

“I pulled out the belt from under my seat and tried to escape. Then I managed to do it,” he told DD India.

Mr Ramesh said “within the first mile” after take-off “it felt like the plane was stuck” and “like something had happened”.

“Then a light came on, like a green and white light came on inside the plane,” he added.

“The pilot was trying to give it a bit of a push to push it forward, but it was struggling. But it went straight into a building.”

He said the side where he landed was not the hostel side and as soon as the plane door broke, he “could see that it was open for [him] and [he had] a chance to get out”.

He said that his brother, Ajay, was seated in a different row on the plane. “He was travelling with me and I can’t find him anymore. Please help me find him,” he told the Hindustan Times.

‘Bodies all around me’

Mr Ramesh continued: “It all happened so quickly. When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me.

“Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital.”

From his hospital bed, Mr Ramesh also met India’s prime minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking in Leicester, Mr Ramesh’s brother Nayan told Sky’s Shamaan Freeman-Powell that their father was on the phone to Mr Ramesh while the plane was still on the runway.

“My dad called him,” the 27-year-old said. “And Vishwash said ‘oh we’re going to take off soon’.”

Two minutes later, their father received a video call from Mr Ramesh to say the plane had crashed and he had survived.

“He video-called my dad as he crashed and said ‘Oh the plane’s crashed. I don’t know where my brother is. I don’t see any other passengers. I don’t know how I’m alive – how I exited the plane’,” Nayan said.

Air India has confirmed 229 passengers and 12 crew members died, but authorities have not confirmed how many people on the ground were killed or injured.

Who were the victims?

Among the British citizens killed in the crash were Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa, and their four-year-old daughter Sara.

Gloucester Muslim Community said in a statement on Facebook that “no words can truly ease the pain of such a profound loss”.

Also on the flight were married couple Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek from west London, who had posted a video from the airport on their Instagram feed shortly before boarding.

Gatwick Airport said in a statement that a reception centre was being set up where information and support will be provided for relatives of those on board.

Tata Sons, Air India’s owner, said it would give around £86,000 to the families of each person who died, cover the medical costs of those injured and support the rebuild of the medical hostel.

British nationals who require consular assistance are advised to call 020 7008 5000, while Air India has set up hotlines to provide information on +91 806 2779 200 for foreign nationals or 1800 5691 444 if calling from India.

UK

UK calls for restraint after Israel launches airstrikes on Iran

Published

7 hours ago

June 13, 2025

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UK calls for restraint after Israel launches airstrikes on Iran

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called for “restraint” and “diplomacy” after Israel launched a barrage of airstrikes on Iran early on Friday.

He called reports of Israel’s so-called Operation Rising Lion “concerning”, but stopped short of condemning it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had targeted the “heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme”, which he feared would eventually be aimed at Israel.

Iran promised “severe punishment” for the attacks, which killed several top commanders and nuclear scientists, and launched 100 drones towards Israel in an initial response.

Follow latest: Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear sites

In a statement on Friday, Mr Starmer urged “all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently”.

He added: “Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate.

“Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy.”

The UK does not appear to have been warned in advance of Israel’s plan to attack Iran.

David Lammy, the foreign secretary, had been due to travel to Washington on Friday to meet his American counterpart.

The trip was cancelled once it became known that Israel had launched its operation.

A Whitehall source said the late cancellation of Mr Lammy’s travel plans indicated the UK had not been alerted in advance to the timing of the attack.

However, the UK had been aware of the increasing likelihood of an Israeli mission to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, given the rhetoric from the Israeli government in recent weeks.

Mr Lammy called it a “dangerous moment” and said “stability in the Middle East is vital for global security”.

Speaking to Sky News this morning, British industry minister Sarah Jones also said the UK had not been involved in the Israeli military operation.

It is understood British warplanes are not currently involved in helping to defend Israel’s skies from any Iranian counterattacks.

This could change as the situation develops.

Additional forces could well be sent to a key Royal Air Force base in Cyprus, where Typhoon jets are stationed.

The deployment of reinforcements to RAF Akrotiri has happened in the past during times of crisis in the Middle East.

The US also said it had not been involved in Israel’s attack on Iran, and warned against any retaliation targeting American interests or personnel.

US President Donald Trump had previously urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack Iran while Washington negotiates a nuclear deal with the country.

In his first public comment about the attacks, he again urged Iran to reach a deal with Washington on its nuclear programme, warning on his Truth Social platform that Israel’s attacks “will only get worse”.

Without saying whether he was privy to specific Israeli plans, the US president said “there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end”.

But China, Saudi Arabia and Russia condemned Israel’s strikes, while Japan called the use of military force “deeply regrettable”.

Russia’s foreign ministry called the attack “unprovoked” and “categorically unacceptable” and said it was in breach of the United Nations charter.

Spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry Lin Jian said: “China opposes the violation of Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, opposes the intensification of contradictions, the expansion of conflicts, and the sudden
rise in temperature of the regional situation.”

Takeshi Iwaya, Japan’s foreign minister, said: “Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, including talks between the United States and Iran, to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, the use of military force is deeply regrettable.”

UK

Seven men used two teenage girls as ‘sex slaves’ in Rochdale

Published

7 hours ago

June 13, 2025

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Seven men used two teenage girls as 'sex slaves' in Rochdale

Seven men have been found guilty of using two teenage girls as “sex slaves” in Rochdale.

Their trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard evidence in relation to 53 sexual offences, believed to have been committed between 2001 and 2006, over 72 days.

One of the victims, who is now in her 30s, told the jury that she was labelled a “prostitute” by social services in Rochdale when allegations against the men first came to light.

Their trial was told that she and the other victim were groomed from the age of 13 and forced to have sex with the men “whenever and wherever” they wanted – including on rancid mattresses, in car parks and alleyways.

Both victims were given drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes by the men involved, the court heard. They were also introduced to taxi drivers for sexual exploitation.

Jurors deliberated for around three weeks – and delivered their unanimous guilty verdicts on Friday.

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