Lucy Walsh bravely tells her terrifying gang rape story over two pages of THE SUN newspaper…
Often coming to Featureworld isn’t about ‘selling’ a story but gaining justice. For Lucy Walsh, getting the details of her horrifying story out in a national newspaper was vitally important because she feels the justice system let her down.
In June 2011 Lucy, then aged 24, went out in Preston for a drink. But in the early hours of the morning, and having had quite a lot to drink, she left a nightclub to find a taxi home. It was a short well lit walk amongst lots of other club goers she had done many times in the past. But unbeknown to her, CCTV shows that she had been targeted by three strange men, who were following her.
Although there was no evidence she was drugged, the next thing she knew she had woken up in a dirty room to find herself being pinned to the floor. Terrifyingly, she was being raped and over the next two hours all three men took it in turns to attack her.
Lucy, who was seriously injured during the attack, was finally thrown out on the street where a passer-by called an ambulance.
One of the men fled while the other two – illegal immigrant Mohammed Ibrahim, 23 and Rezgar Nouri, 27 – were caught by Police, admitted rape and were jailed for 16 years. But last year they appealed against the conviction and it was reduced to twelve years.
Worse, she discovered one of the men – Ibrahim – had been given British Citizenship while in prison. The third suspect, also thought to be an illegal immigrant, has never been caught – and Lucy believes not enough was done to find the third attacker.
Lucy was devastated and it has had a terrible effect on her life – she no longer felt safe. She had a good sales job but because it involved meeting people on appointments she had to give it up as she was too terrified to go on them. She no longer even felt safe at home and with the third suspect at large, certainly not in the UK. So unsafe that she has gone abroad to work – currently she is in Canada.
When Featureworld, on behalf of The Sun rang the Home Office they confirmed Ibrahim has now been stripped of his citizenship and will be deported when his sentence comes to the end.
The Police say they are still seeking the third suspect. But Lucy says: “After what’s happened I don’t know when if ever I can come back to Britain.”
On her story in The Sun, Lucy says: “I’ve had some amazing positive messages through my Facebook this morning… and my family were as delighted as I am with the sensitive way my story has been done. I am made up – I can’t thank you enough for all your support and for getting my story out there.”
Lucy’s story has now been placed with a national women’s magazine and she will shortly be appearing on TV.
If you have been affected by rape or sexual abuse and wish to tell your story, do contact us to the right of this page>>> for free and sensitive advice – there is never any obligation to go ahead.
