Jill Saward the first rape victim in the UK to waive her anonymity and speak out dies aged 51
Ealing vicarage rape victim and heroic campaigner died from a brain haemorrhage
THE first British rape victim to waive their right to anonymity has died from a brain haemorrhage at the age of 51.
Vicar’s daughter Jill Saward was just 21 when three knife-wielding attackers high on drink and drugs broke into her father’s vicarage in Ealing, West London, demanding money.
Two of the attackers repeatedly raped Jill before tying her up.
Her father Michael Saward and then boyfriend, David Kerr, suffered fractured skulls after being bound and beaten with cricket bats.
The 1986 assault — labelled by the media as the “Ealing vicarage rape” — shocked the nation.
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But the trial attracted headlines around the world a year later when the judge, Sir John Leonard, described Jill’s trauma as “not so very great” — and gave harsher jail terms for the burglary than rape.
Jill always referred to her attackers as Man One, Man Two and Man Three, the only names she was given leading up to their trial.
The 34-year-old ringleader, who did not sexually assault Jill, was sentenced to 14 years for his part in the burglary.
The other two raiders, both 22 at the time, were given five years for burglary and five years and three years, respectively, for the rape.
Jill’s father Michael, who died in 2015 aged 82, said later: “I think she felt more shock at the judge’s behaviour than that of the rapists.”
Both the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and opposition leader Neil Kinnock criticised the sentences for being too lenient.
Four years after the attack, Jill allowed herself to be named in the media and published a book titled Rape: My Story.
She told how the impact of the assault had been so great that she considered taking her own life.
Jill went on to reveal: “I’d been suicidal three times, I’d had post- traumatic stress disorder, which wasn’t really recognised then.”
She added later: “Rape changes your life — you’ll never be the same as you were before.”
She went on to educate the police and judges on sexual violence issues and campaigned for changes to the law.
As a result, the law now allows for the right to appeal lenient sentences.
And three years ago, new guidelines stated that judges had to give greater emphasis to the impact of sex assaults on victims when sentences are passed.
Jill went on to have three sons and settled with her husband Gavin in Hednesford, Staffs.
A statement from her family on her website last night said that she had agreed to be an organ donor.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, described her as a “heroic and remarkable campaigner for the victims of rape”.
The charity Rape Crisis England and Wales also paid tribute, saying: “She campaigned tirelessly for both legal and social justice for victims of rape and sexual violence.”
Jill, a Christian, found the strength in 1998 to forgive one of her victims after he apologised.
She explained: “I believe forgiveness gives you freedom. Freedom to move on without being held back by the past.”
She also said: “Why should I use their names? It perpetuates their status.
“Why make Man Two worse than any other rapist? I don’t want to give him the glory, the infamy.”
Today it is Jill Saward that the world remembers — not as the victim of the “Ealing vicarage rape” but as a determined and fearless campaigner.