Schoolgirl raped at knifepoint during sleepover told by Greater Manchester Police officer 'leave it alone, get on with your life', lawsuit claims
26.07.2022 - 11:55
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A woman raped at knifepoint during a sleepover 24 years ago has launched a lawsuit against Greater Manchester Police for their alleged failure to bring the suspect to justice. The victim, who we are calling "Susan" to protect her identity, was raped while staying at a friend's house in the Copster Hill area of Oldham in 1998, when she was a teenager.
Acting for her, Irvings Law is now alleging Breach of Article 3 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and "misfeasance in public office". They have submitted the claim to the chief constable of GMP Stephen Watson. The term misfeasance in public office refers in this case to action taken by police who have allegedly knowingly abused their authority or power or behaved recklessly or indifferently.
Susan's case was taken up after the Manchester Evening News put her in contact with the Rochdale-based sex abuse survivors organisation, the Maggie Oliver Foundation, founded by the renowned former detective. Immediately after her rape, Susan underwent a deeply personal examination at the St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester and forensic evidence was gathered.
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It is alleged by Susan's lawyers that she was told by police that her case would not be taken further because they had taken the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who stated that because she had engaged in sex previously they would not be willing to investigate further. The investigating officer informed Susan that this would make the rape "more difficult to prove".
She was also told that the suspect admitted to having sex with her but argued that the sex was consensual. "Your officers took the suspect's
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