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I held her and we cried.
I cried for her but I mostly cried for me.
I felt so guilty and still do.

Guilty because I was thinking about myself. Why did I leave her? How could I explain to her family that I had taken her to a concert and left her to get home on her own? Me, me, me.

I could not look her in the eyes.

One of the men, a friend of a friend, one of those people you nod at because you sort of know them, was arrested.

I found myself in the pub as the doors opened to serve the early Sunday drinkers.

I tried to drown my sorrows, got angrier and angrier, guiltier and guiltier and using my journalistic skills tracked down his address, returned home, grabbed a carving knife and went to kill him.

Had I any iota of common sense, I would have realised he wouldn't be at home but in the police station interview room but when did common sense ever come into it.

In frustration I scratched 'your dead' on his door, in typical reporters fashion I even spelt you're incorrectly.

The man in question was released pending further investigation but insisted that the woman was a willing partner and wanted to have sex and be left abandoned in the dark in a muddy field.

He couldn't understand why she would run into a road, jump in front of a car, cry rape and be driven to a police station.

It was his word against hers and the case was dropped.

I later appeared before magistrates, admitted carrying an offensive weapon in a public place and criminal damage, and was fined £25.

A rival newspaper took great joy writing the story: "reporter on rampage of revenge".

My own newspaper covered the case in a less celebratory manner; my bosses were sympathetic and did not sack me.

One week after the incident I was sharing a coffee with the girl and her best friend.

Almost to the second the victim gave out the most horrifying howl of pain, sorrow and sadness.

I have never seen anyone shake and cry with such intensity and I hope I never see it again.

Now as a parent of an 18-year-old daughter I pray that who ever takes my girl out to a party, show or concert will make sure she gets home safely.

There are people out there who will take advantage of circumstance... and you can be assured that the odds of anyone being convicted of a sex attack are remote if your loved one falls prey to one of them.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk