11-year ordeal of Witton Park rape victim

Graham Darbyshire is facing a life behind bars after he admitted that he carried out a savage sex attack on a 22-year-old woman.

The 53-year-old's conviction of two charges of rape and one of indecent assault, came due to advances in DNA technology, and brought an end to one of East Lancashire's biggest ever manhunts.

Speaking exclusively to the Lancashire Telegraph after his conviction at Manchester Crown Court last week Darbyshire's victim said that even after 11 years she was still struggling to come to terms with what happened to her.

She said that she can not forgive Darbyshire for what he did to her, adding that she still struggles to leave her home alone. And she said that the memory of the attack will never go away.

What are your feelings now he has been caught? Had you felt the day would never come?

I have always known that he would be caught one day. I don't know why, but I think it was just a gut feeling.

In fact just two weeks before I was informed that he had been arrested I began for some strange reason to think of that awful day.

I had very mixed feelings about being told.

Firstly it was a relief and a weight off my shoulders as I knew he wouldn't be able to attack anybody else.

Then the emotions kicked in, as the events that I had tried to push to the back of my mind had returned.

I became weepy and upset because it brought back all of the memories and I relived the incident.

I was worried if there was going to be a court case and I would have to face him.

The police alleviated these worries as best they could.

It was very confusing and my feelings have been very much up and down.

How did your life change after the attack? What were you like before by comparison?

I find it extremely difficult to go out by myself, even for a short walk or shopping in town is impossible.

Perhaps it is an irrational fear but I feel very vulnerable, especially in situations where I am alone with a male who is unknown to me.

I have lost all of my confidence and independence in this sense.

Before my attack I would not think twice about doing these things but I now become panicky.

Even after 11 years I am slowly getting back to my old self. having relationships for a few years afterwards was very difficult.

When I do fully trust a man it constantly plays on my mind, when should I tell him?

It is not something that comes up in everyday conversation.

I get very anxious on how they are going to react.

Over the past 11 years have you been able to rebuild your life?

I have been able to rebuild my life over the last 11 years - you have to, otherwise he will have won and I wasn't going to let that happen.

It does take a long time but luckily I have a very close family and such amazing friends who are there for me as a major support.

I have always had someone there to listen if I needed to talk or cheer me up or keep me busy when I'm down.

This has definitely been the main factor on rebuilding my life.

During the attack, I had a feeling that it wasn't happening to me as I was in my own little protective bubble, floating above my body.

It sounds weird but I think this helped as well.

Has his arrest brought a sense of closure? Are you now able to look to the future more positively?

I suppose his arrest has brought some sense of closure, I know he is locked up.

I can now stop looking at men, wondering if he was the one.

It has made me more aware of places, surrounding areas and personal safety.

I have always looked towards the future and made plans.

Although it was very difficult and at times impossible I have dealt with what happened, it will never ever go away and no doubt something in the future will bring it all back.

I can now, however, stop waiting for the phone call that I have waited 11 years for to tell me that he has been caught.

What are your feelings today towards Darbyshire for what he did? Would you ever be able to forgive?

Nobody has the right to put anyone through the ordeal that happened to me, whatever their past or issues that they have.

So in that sense I would never forgive him for what he did.

There are numerous unanswered questions going round in my mind.

These include: "Why me?", "What was he doing in Witton Park?" and "Why did he have to go to the extremes in the actual physical assault?"

I would like an answer to these questions and maybe then I would gain some understanding.

The police have always seemed especially determined to bring this man to justice. What would you like to say about their lengthy but ultimately successful investigation?

I always knew he would be caught one day as the police did an excellent job from the start.

I have been kept informed of all the lines of inquiry which I was thankful for, especially as time went on.

I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone involved, not just the officers in Lancashire but also Greater Manchester Police and everyone concerned in the forensic side of this case.