Sexual assault survivor wants to be voice for others

A young woman who was sexually assaulted by a taxi driver taking her home after a night out has said she wants to be a voice for those who can't speak out.

Chloe Wilson, from Londonderry, was 18 years old when she was assaulted in 2017.

She spoke to BBC News NI previously, using only her first name, when taxi driver Paul Bryan from Newtowncunningham, County Donegal was sentenced for the attack earlier this year.

Now Chloe has waived her right to anonymity, hoping it will help others and bring lasting change to the legal system.

Chloe said her future now centres on “victim empowerment”.

“I want to be a voice, someone who if you feel you can't talk will be your Jane Doe,” she said.

“I'll be the person you can hide behind, because I’m not scared anymore… I'm not ashamed and I know that they won't be at some stage also.”

Chloe met with Geraldine Hanna, NI's victim commissioner last week

Last week, Chloe met Northern Ireland’s victims of crime commissioner Geraldine Hanna to discuss how things can improve for victims and survivors.

"We both have the same vision including [the need for] tougher sentencing,” Chloe said.

Chloe said it is vital others know there “is life after assault".

“You are more than what happened to you. You are not the product of your trauma. I used to see myself as a victim and now I don't," she added.

"I see myself as a survivor and capable of making change.”

'A kind of haze'

Chloe became separated from friends during a night out in Letterkenny in October 2017 when Bryan, 63, collected her in his taxi and assaulted her.

In September, Bryan was sentenced to four years, half of which is to be served in custody before being released on licence.

During her seven year wait for justice Chloe said she was in “a kind of a haze”.

“It's the most difficult thing I've ever dealt with… I'm just a normal girl, I’m someone's daughter, a sister, a friend and someone very typical of a girl who grew up in Derry.”

That seven year wait is something no survivor should have to endure, Chloe said.

“You deal with the victimisation of yourself, like what did I do to make this my fault? The answer to that is absolutely nothing.

“Predators exist and unfortunately we live among them,” she said.

Chloe said the meeting with the commissioner was an opportunity to push for change within the legal system.

“The last seven years has shown me how much is wrong with our system and how we need to change,” she added.

Following Bryan’s sentencing the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said there had been “no undue delay by the PPS at any stage” and that “sentencing is a matter for the trial judge”.

It said prosecutors first became aware of the case in 2022 when the PPS received a file from police.

"Once evidence was considered a decision to prosecute the suspect for sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault was taken," the PPS said.

Chloe said the commissioner agreed there was a need for tougher sentences

Chloe said the justice system needs to take a more “victim centred approach” with the “right kind of therapy” commonplace within it.

She also believes those who give early guilty pleas should not receive more lenient sentences.

“This is not the time to give light sentence to people who ruin people’s lives."

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available at BBC Action Line.