Police made me feel like a liar when I reported being raped: Victim’s anguish at blunders by officers

March 2nd, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Anita Grinham, 37, wants to be named to show up police and help other victims of sex attacks
Suffolk Police has admitted that their investigation was flawed

By
Emily Andrews

Last updated at 11:22 PM on 1st March 2012

Hurt: Distraught Anita Grinham, 37, says her life had been wrecked after she was attacked when her drink was spiked on a night out

A mother has told how her life was left in ruins after police made her feel like a liar when she reported being raped.

Anita Grinham told officers she was sexually assaulted in her own home by a man who had spiked her drink in a nightclub.

But she says the detectives did not take her allegations seriously and sided with her attacker.

Her claims were backed up by an internal inquiry that found key witnesses were not interviewed and the suspect’s house and car were left unsearched.

Although a suspect was arrested, the case did not reach court through lack of forensic evidence – another failing in the police investigation.

Miss Grinham, who has waived her anonymity to detail her ordeal, said her life was in ruins despite being vindicated by an apology from Suffolk police.

‘I know what happened to me – I was violated in the most horrendous way,’ said the 37-year-old mother of four.

‘Someone raped me and no one’s been punished. But I was made to feel like a liar. My whole life has changed. I went from being bubbly and outgoing to being paranoid and scared.

‘Because of this horrendous experience I lost my business.

‘I now suffer from panic attacks, depression and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Sorry is not good enough. My life stopped when I was raped. I have spent all my time since then trying to get justice.

‘I just hope what I have been through helps change things for other victims.’

Miss Grinham was attacked on a night out with friends in her home town of Ipswich in July 2008 to celebrate the opening of a beauty salon she had set up.

Because she was driving, she bought only one glass of wine, which she asked a doorman to look after while she went to the lavatory.

‘I vaguely knew this guy, as I had seen him in my local gym and I thought as a doorman he would be responsible,’ she said.

‘After I finished my drink I started to feel very peculiar – my legs felt funny and my friends said we should go home.

‘Apparently this doorman offered to drive my car home, as I felt awful and my friends had had too much to drink. The next thing I remember is waking up and he was on top of me.

‘I wanted to scream and scream but nothing would come out of my mouth – it was as if I was paralysed. My young children were asleep next door and I was just terrified.

Apology: Det Ch Supt Andy Henwood, of Suffolk Police, has said a new structure was now in place for 'allegations of rape are always taken seriously.'

Apology: Det Ch Supt Andy Henwood, of Suffolk Police, has said a new structure was now in place for ‘allegations of rape are always taken seriously.’

‘I must have passed out as when I woke up again my head really hurt, I was totally naked and he had gone.

‘I was so terrified and distraught I went straight to the bathroom and started scrubbing myself with a nail brush.’

Miss Grinham said her attacker had warned her ‘not to do anything stupid’ after the incident.

She defied this harassment and reported the crime to the police five weeks later. However, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with charges due to lack of evidence.

After making a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, Miss Grinham was told in May 2010 that Suffolk police’s professional standards department would review the investigation.

Her complaint was upheld last June when the force apologised. Officers reopened the investigation but could not re-interview the suspect as there was no new DNA evidence.

Miss Grinham said the force’s response had made her feel she was being branded a liar.

The investigation stated: ‘Forensic opportunities were not considered, telephone evidence not sought, key witnesses not interviewed regarding the connected harassment incident, or re-interviewed in the case of the female acquaintances who had been with the complainant.

‘Equally, searches of the suspect’s home or the car used were not carried out, neither was he re-interviewed after conflicting accounts were obtained from the witnesses.’

While revealing that the officer who interviewed Miss Grinham was trained to deal with rape inquiries, the report states the officer in charge of the inquiry had no specialist training in sexual offences.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Hendwood of Suffolk Constabulary said: ‘Anita Grinham made a complaint to Suffolk Police via the IPCC in relation to how her case was investigated, which was reviewed by our Professional Standards Department.

‘As a result the PSD made a number of recommendations, which assisted with the new structure for rape investigations. Suffolk Constabulary has created a countywide Gemini Team with specialist rape-trained officers who work with the victim from the outset to ensure they receive the best possible support, advice and guidance. They follow national protocol and best practice compiled from forces throughout the country.’

Earlier this week a criminal justice joint inspection study criticised police in England and Wales for dismissing more than one in ten rape allegations to secure a higher conviction rate and meet targets.

It warned that target cultures have put forces under pressure to keep recorded crime to a ‘minimum’ and that foreign rapists could be escaping justice because police are failing to check the background of suspects.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

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Nick, UK, 01/3/2012 22:18
PC Rathband got shot in the face on duty…. What a disgrace he was!
The police are like any other employer…… we have some good ones, some excellent ones, some pretty average and some are piss poor.
You however, as a typical DM reader, would rather generalize than make a statement that means anything. If Suffolk police got it wrong, then they must face up to their responsibilities accordingly They as a force have many successes, which you will not have read about, and you will not have the full facts of this case at your disposal, because whilst the victim is not bound by data protection, they are. Therefore the only point at which you will have the opportunity to get the full facts will be when the IPCC investigation is complete.
Usually by then, the press have either lost interest, or if the police are found not to be a fault its not really considered a story.

– COPPERPOT, East Anglia, 02/3/2012 07:50

Its all a bit hysterical dontcha think? 5 weeks down the line? She says, he says, no case to answer. And anyway, this drink spiking thing has already been exposed as a bit of kid yourself ology. Get on with it, it was not that that made your business fail.

– gorblimey, spain, 02/3/2012 07:40

This is a sad story and i feel for anita,but waiting 5 weeks makes it impossible to collect forensic evidence. The police haven’t failed to collect it… Unfortunatley it’s not there any more. No evidence of drugs in system from date rape either. Whist i understand how difficult this is i can’t see why it’s the polices fault

– Joe , Leeds, 02/3/2012 06:56

The people today condemning the police force’s callous attitude towards female victims of violent crimes, including rape and domestic abuse, are the same ones who just yesterday were claiming it was merely “harmless banter” for police instructors to be openly sexist and denigrating towards women police officers. Until the police learn to treat women with respect – both their colleagues and the victims of crimes – incidents like this will continue to happen. It’s an entrenched pattern in the British police force to view women with indifference, scorn and arrogance.

– Caren Waxler, Europe, 02/3/2012 05:13

Where was the husband or father of her 4 YOUNG children said to be asleep in the house and more important who was looking after them? Perhaps if she lived a normal life the alleged rape might not have happened!

– Michael J Lee, Sheffield UK, 02/3/2012 04:47

There’s very little chance a jury would ever believe someone who took five weeks to report a crime such as this. The prospects of a conviction are just about zero.

– Derek_S, Cambridgeshire, UK, 02/3/2012 03:42

Graham, Hong Kong, 1/3/2012 15:54: only a man could have written the comments that you posted. So should you be unfortunate to be mugged, then you won’t be critical of the police, if they say that you’re lying? KIt might surprise you to know, Graham, that men lie about being victims of crime. So why don’t your pathetic, misogynistic views shove them where the sun don’t shine.
Dita, Still Here, 1/3/2012 15:33: there are a fair few male DM readers, such as Graham, in Hong Kong, who believe that any woman, who says she’s been raped, is a liar.
LeClerc, Ipswich, 1/3/2012 16:04: I’m assuming that you’ve never been raped.

– Emma. D, Somewhere only I know, 02/3/2012 03:41

And people wonder why that Indian woman who was raped ordered her rapist assassinated by vigilanties rather than go to the police. And the DM posters bashed her for it. Just shows how stupid some people are on DM. The police is useless … until they start doing their job you’ll see a lot more vigilante justice.

– Karl, Kent, 02/3/2012 02:58

So you waited FIVE WEEKS to report this rape. I have to ask the question that if you are so adamant of these facts, why wait so long…??

– Syn Nikall, Sarf Coast, 02/3/2012 00:43

Well first of all, reading the article, it hasnt been proven a rape occured, only that the police didnt follow up. It should also be noted that the target culture between the police and the CPS has also taken cases to court, so weak, that there hasnt been a hope of conviction (Stern 2010). Meaning potentially innocent men have been put through rape trials simply to meet targets.

– Duncan, Bridgend, 02/3/2012 00:28

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