AN ALLEGED rape victim has spoken of her months of agony waiting to find out if her case would go to court.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was raped at her flat in Cowley in May last year when she was just 16.

The victim, now 17, said an ex-boyfriend attacked her after arriving unannounced at her flat.

Police arrested a 19-year-old on suspicion of rape, but he was rebailed five times before being released without charge on March 10.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the case centred on the issue of consent, which it said was “always complex”– and that it was not confident of getting a conviction.

The girl said: “I feel like I’ve wasted a whole year waiting. I’ve had to put my life on hold. I couldn’t even go to work or anything. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.”

She said she has been suffering depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

She said: “It makes me feel I wasn’t wanted in this world and nobody can help me. I was suicidal. I didn’t know what to do or who to tell.

“I didn’t want to be alive any more. He’s caused me so much harm. I’ve isolated myself and given myself limits as to where I can and can’t go.”

After the incident, police took the girl to a rape crisis centre in Milton Keynes.

She said: “They made me sit on a plastic bag in the car so we didn’t lose any evidence. They went to my flat and took stuff from my bed. They were really helpful.”

It is believed the alleged attacker’s DNA was found on her and her bed, but the CPS decided not to prosecute the 19-year-old when police presented the case in January.

Thames and Chiltern CPS spokeswoman Jo Harwood said: “After very careful consideration, including seeking advice from an external barrister who is highly experienced in handling rape cases, we decided that there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction in this case.

“The issue in this case was around consent, which is always complex and by its very nature relies on more than just DNA evidence.”

As reported in the Oxford Mail, only 12.5 per cent of rapes in Oxford last year ended with a suspect being charged or cautioned. Ms Harwood said: “We have worked closely with Thames Valley Police to improve the quality of police case files and prosecutions in cases involving sexual offences. “Together we are committed to increasing public confidence and getting people to report rape and serious sexual offences.”

Rape Crisis spokeswoman Katie Russell said: “Consent has been clearly defined in law. It needs to be given freely and fully.

“Survivors of rape deserve justice. Often if a case is dropped, it can compound feelings of shame and not being believed.”