Biography

Born in Liverpool in 1965, I am an identical twin.

I became a Christian aged 12, following the death of a young boy, at a Pathfinder Camp I was attending.

In 1986 I hit the headlines following what was dubbed by the media as “The Ealing Vicarage Rape”. 4 men (although we were only aware of 3) broke into my father’s vicarage and beat up my boyfriend and dad, and one of them raped, buggered and indecently assaulted me, whilst a second indecently assaulted me (under the law as it was then).

In 1990 I became the first victim in the UK to waive my right to anonymity and had my book “Rape My Story” published by Bloomsbury Press and then in Paperback by Pan. It was co-written with Wendy Green a friend of mine.

I have worked in a variety of roles: as a Classroom Assistant, Children’s Shoe Fitter, Secretary/Receptionist for Christian Charity, Cash Office Clerk, Cleaner/Head Housekeeper of a YMCA, Temporary Teacher, Children’s Development Worker, Rape and Sexual Assault Caseworker and Sexual Violence Advisor, as well as being self employed working with the media, writing articles, public speaking at schools, university, youth groups, as well as to professionals. I stood in a by election against David Davis in 2008. I have campaigned/spoken on many issues including sexual violence, violence against women, forgiveness, justice, CCTV, a national DNA database, endometrial cancer and Crohn’s disease.  In 2012 I was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS – hypermobility)  and possible Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

I have provided training to Old Bailey judges, plastic surgeon’s conference, nurses conference, northern area FME’s, mental health professionals, Cambridge Police, City Police, Cleveland Police, Devon and Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, Durham Police, Dyfed Powys Police, Essex Police, GMP, Gwent Police, Hampshire Police, Jersey Police, Kent Police, Leicestershire Police, Nottinghamshire Police, South Wales Police, Sussex Police, Warwickshire Police, Wiltshire Police, West Mercia Police, West Midlands Police and West Yorkshire Police.  I have spoken at Westminster School; Colchester Girls; Lady Margaret, Fulham; Calday Grange, West Kirby; Coventry University and the Oxford Union.

I have appeared on numerous tv programmes including: BBC News, ITN News, Sky News, News 24, GMTV, Channel 4 News, Channel 5 News, Central News, Granada News, TV am, BBC Breakfast, Hard News, Newsnight, Thames News, Newsroom South East, Yorkshire TV News, and West Country News.

I have also appeared on: Songs of Praise; The Time, The Place; Kilroy; This Morning; Central Weekend Live; Esther, Crimestalker; Everyman; The James Whale Show; Ruby Wax Show; Heart of the Matter; Kenny Live; Panorama; Up Front; Crimewatch Daily; Cover Story; Wire TV; This is the Day; The Paul Ross Show; The Big Questions; 7 Days that Shook Coronation Street; The Politics Show; Chalke Talk; Good Morning; Beechy; The Crystal Rose Show; Enigma; Hearts and Minds; UK Living; Spotlight; Ark2; Matter of Faith; Cable 1; What’s the Story; 4 Thought…………… (I may have missed some as I didn’t keep a record for several years).

I have been on the radio over 500 times including: The Moral Maze, The World at One, Woman’s Hour & World Service, Radio 1, 2, 4, 5, Local BBC Stations, LBC & Premier.

I have written articles for or been interviewed for: Woman, Woman’s Own, Hello!, Marie Claire, Company, Eve, JAM, Bella, Pick Me Up, Take a Break, The Times, The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independent, The Observer, Today, The Daily Mirror, The Sunday Mirror, The Independent on Sunday, The Liverpool Echo, The Western Morning News, The Evening Standard, Bradford Telgraph and Argus, News of the World, UK News, Tavistock Times Gazette, Worcester Evening News, Exeter Express and Echo, Newcastle Eveing Chronicle, Church of England Newspaper, Yorkshire Evening Post, Yorkshire Times, Sunday Times, Daily Star, Baptist Times, New Christian Herald, Shropshire Star, Scotland on Sunday, Practical Parenting, Third Way, Liverpool Daily News, Scottish Daily Record, Ealing Gazette, West London Guardian, Birmingham Post and Mail, The Islander, Birmingham Evening Mail, Nursing Times, Best, Parentwise, Methodist Recorder, Caring News.

I spent a year looking after my mother who had endometrial cancer. She was too frightened to ask for medical advice, so that when she did it was too late.