'I felt like I'd been slapped'

A rape victim who was told her compensation would be cut because she had been drinking before the attack has had the decision overturned.

The 25-year-old, who was raped after a night out, had been told the standard £11,000 award would be cut by 25%.

But her lawyer successfully argued it was wrong to regard alcohol consumption as a contributing factor in rape cases.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the BBC why she decided to fight the original decision.

A rape victim describes her fight for compensation (voiced by an actor)

I couldn't believe that they were trying to say that I was in some part responsible for having been raped. I felt like I'd been slapped in the face.

I felt like the whole thing about the compensation for being a victim of crime is to try and help people come to terms with having been assaulted.

And it's as if they tried to sort of reel me in with promises of kindness and compassion - only to slap me in the face.

I felt that if they could do that to me, they could do that to anyone. In a way, I would be giving them permission to treat victims like criminals, so I just didn't feel I had a choice.

I just feel like it's ruined my life. I haven't worked for four years since I was raped. I lost my house, I lost my job, I've lost most of my friends Rape victim Rape compensation cut overturned

I didn't want to fight it, I was exhausted. The whole process has taken four years from start to finish.

But I couldn't stop - I just had to keep going, and luckily I had a solicitor to help me.

I'd also had the problem that I had difficulties with how the police investigated my case and I also felt that had thrown a stain on my character. There was an insinuation that perhaps I was a liar, that this hadn't happened.

And to have it down in black and white that, yes, I was raped - it shouldn't happen. It shouldn't happen to any woman to see that and to get a pay-out - although the money really isn't the issue - it's more the acknowledgement, it's just crucial.

I can't really articulate how important it is - it just becomes the focus. It's your only chance at justice.

I just feel like it's ruined my life. I haven't worked for four years since I was raped. I lost my house, I lost my job, I've lost most of my friends.

It's been a huge strain on family relationships and the fact the whole way through the police and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority have insinuated that I was to blame or I wasn't telling the truth, has allowed people to make judgements about me.

I feel that my reputation has been damaged. It's just affected every single part of my life and I just don't have a life compared to what I had before this happened.