British teenager 'raped by bartender on Greek holiday before police forced her to face attacker' wins human rights ruling

A British holidaymaker has won a “landmark” legal ruling after Greek police failed to properly investigate her rape allegations.

The victim, known only as Mrs.

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The woman, then 18 years old, reported the incident to the police the same day, but remained in the dark about the investigation.

She came face to face with her alleged attacker in hospital and during a police identity parade and was even denied access to court documents.

Police also ignored forensic medical reports that showed she had extensive bruising to her legs, thighs and genitals.

Despite a mountain of evidence, the bartender was released and the investigation was closed a year later.

Police ruled there was “insufficient evidence” to proceed.

Mrs X, from West Yorks, took her case to the European Court of Human Rights and won.

In a damning ruling, the court found “significant shortcomings” and accused the Greek legal system of failing her.

The jury found: “The intimate nature of the subject, the young age of the applicant and the fact that she claimed to have been raped while on holiday abroad required a sensitive approach on the part of the authorities.

“The investigating authorities had not taken any measures to prevent her from becoming further traumatized and had not sufficiently taken her needs into account.

“They had not informed her of her rights as a victim, such as her right to legal aid, her right to receive information and to object to the interpretation.

“Furthermore, they had not taken adequate measures to alleviate what was clearly a painful experience for her, such as her interactions with the police, the medical examination and the fact that she was face to face with the suspect in the hospital and during the identification. procedure.”

They added: “These elements, in addition to the assessment of the forensic report, which did not factually contradict the applicant's version of events, were not isolated errors, but significant deficiencies.

“Therefore, without passing judgment on the guilt of the suspect, the court ruled that the inability of the investigative and judicial authorities to adequately respond to the allegations of rape against Ms. had given what was needed. so that they can properly fulfill their duties.”