Rape Victim's 'Model' Recovery

A rape victim - whose attacker is currently serving 11 years in prison - is to take to the catwalk in support of those who supported her.

Christine Bennett was raped by Anthony West after he scaled a wall at the back of her east Belfast home last November.

Christine, who waived her right to anonymity, has agreed to take to the catwalk as a model tomorrow night at a fashion show in Belfast.

It will also be attended by movie star Jayne Weisener, to help raise funds for the Rape Crisis Centre.

The 20 year-old said she has now rebuilt her life and is happier than she has ever been.

She said: "I owe so much to the Rape Crisis Centre. The volunteers at the centre were there for me. They helped keep me going.

"The centre was and still is part of my life. It was the volunteers who helped me get through the ordeal of the trial and who have helped me move on with my life," she said.

West, who she had known as an acquaintance, as both their brothers were friends, scaled a seven foot high back yard wall to gain entrance to Christine's house.

She was in bed sleeping when he attacked her and she said she just froze with fear.

"You always think that if anyone did something like this to you that you'd do this, that and the other. You always associate such things as happening in a back entry or something like that. You don't expect to be lying in your own bed sleeping," said Christine.

Christine said she was satisfied with the 11-year sentence handed down by the court and that she has been able to sleep better at night knowing that West is behind bars.

"I am going to rebuild my life. I'm not going to let this get in the way of things. Why should I give him the satisfaction?

"I feel justice has been done and that it was worth going through the ordeal of the trial. By going to court and giving evidence I feel I've saved other girls because he is a danger to other women."

Anthony West, of Meadowbank Street, initially claimed he had consensual sex with the victim - who was a teenager at the time last November.

West had earlier called to her house where she made him a cup of tea in the kitchen but after he went away, he left the back door unlocked, returned later, and after scaling a wall, he sneaked through her house before attacking her.

She said she had spurned his advances and sent a text message to her friend expressing her relief she had managed to get rid of him.

The jury at West's trial was told she went back to bed but woke up sometime later to find West raping her.

See: Belfast Man Guilty Of Early Morning Rape

(BMcC/KMcA)