A WOMAN from the North-East who was raped and left for dead on a Spanish holiday isle has spoken of the closure she hopes to get from seeing her alleged attacker jailed.

Cheryl Maddison, 25, from Murton, County Durham, moved to Magaluf in Majorca, for work in May 2008, but days after arriving she was raped and stabbed after being followed home.

She suffered multiple stab wounds and a collapsed lung, and the attack only ended when she pretended to be dead.

Miss Maddison, who now works as a model, flew to Majorca this week to give evidence in court against the man accused of attacking her.

She explained she did so hoping to bring closure and  since the attack had managed to move on and start a new and possibly better life.

''After it first happened, the first year or two, it ruined my life, it changed the person who I was.

''I did my best to get back to my normal self and worked away and got my life back to normal and I am a stronger person than what I was before.

''I have gone over for closure to see him prosecuted for as long as he can get, but also, if I'm here to make my statement, it's getting my point across better so any questions they need answering, I have been able to answer them.

Miss Maddison, who has waived her right to anonymity, added: "When I gave my statement (in court) there was a screen around me so he could not see me, and on Wednesday I was sat behind him so all I could see was the back of his head so I did not have to see him.

''I had to be here as I was summoned but I'm glad that I came.

''I have been with my partner for a year and I have totally moved on and I have my own life back.

"I always wanted to work abroad and I have managed to do that for two years so my life is totally back to normal, if not better.''

Moroccan waiter Mohamed Fadel el Anssari, who was arrested in July 2011 after detectives got his DNA off a cigarette butt, denies attempted murder and rape.