A NORTH YORKSHIRE woman raped near her home today urged other victims to bring their attackers to book.

The 20-year-old had to relive her terrifying ordeal in court when she gave evidence against her attacker Andrew Bailey.

The case had to go before a jury at York Crown Court after Bailey, of Tennant Street, Selby, denied the two rape charges.

His victim broke down crying in court as she gave evidence, hidden from the defendant by a screen.

Bailey was jailed for seven years after the jury unanimously convicted him.

Speaking at her home, she said: "It's a nightmare having to tell your family and the police what happened, knowing that if he's found not guilty I would have been called a liar.

"It isn't something you want to shout from the rooftops, but I didn't want that scum to get away with it.

"If it hadn't been me that night, it would have been someone else.

"I was petrified, but if you keep it to yourself and bottle it up, it will prey on your mind all the time and you will just crack up.

"I knew that telling my boyfriend would be very difficult and that it would break my mother's heart, but there was no way I was going to let him beat me.

"I was under a lot of stress and had counselling for four weeks up to the trial, but I don't regret for one second reporting it to the police.

"They were brilliant and I also had a lot of support from Crown Prosecution Service case workers. "If victims don't report their attackers, they will strike again."

The mother-of-one, who does not wish to be identified, was walking to her home in Selby after a night out in the town centre when her attacker struck.

She was left naked and hysterical after Bailey punched her to the ground, before dragging her into a nearby garden and raping her twice.

She said: "I thought I was going to die and honestly didn't think I would see my daughter again.

"I hate him for what he has done to me and my family, but I'm determined he's not going to ruin my life."

She has now split up with her boyfriend and is still on anti-depressants.

She said: "It was three months before I plucked up enough courage to go into the town centre again.

"I was terrified of going out of the house. I felt paranoid about people pointing a finger at me or what they were thinking."

She says she has found new strength by joining Keysi Fighting Method (KFM) classes, where women are taught self-defence.

She said: "It has given me more confidence and if I had attended the classes before this happened I would have had a much better chance of fighting him off."

Updated: 10:41 Friday, August 06, 2004