A brave rape victim has opened up on her harrowing account of a sexual assault that happened over 20 years ago - and hopes that the experience can help victims come forward and police be better trained in helping victims of these crimes.

The woman, who can't be named legally, spoke at Durham Police's Meadowfield training centre on Thursday (May 16) during a visit from Home Secretary James Cleverly. 

During her speech, the victim opened up about the attack, which took place on New Year's Eve, saying that she got drunk, lost her friends and ended up crying on a bench. 

After a man initially passed by and appeared to be helping her, he invited her back to his house under the guise of allowing her to use the phone to call her parents.

He then forced her into a bedroom and raped her - with the victim eventually pleading with the man to stop assaulting her and escape from the house.

In her speech, the victim said: "I was numb - I always think back of why I didn't scream - I don't know if I didn't have the ability to scream - or whether I was frozen by his actions.

"I relive the nightmare - it doesn't get easier every time I speak about it. I prayed that the attack would be over soon. 

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"When it happened - it felt like it lasted an eternity - I just wanted it to be over."

After initially not wanting to report the sexual assault to the police - the woman said that she eventually reported it after seeing that another woman had been raped near the location where the attack on her had happened. 

The woman says that after reporting the sexual assault, she was supported at every step by Durham Police - and hopes that her story can further help other victims to come forward and to help police investigate more offences.

If you are a victim of sexual assault or have been affected by anything in this story, voluntary organisations, such as Rape Crisis, Women's Aid, Victim Support, The Survivors Trust or Male Survivors Partnership are there to offer support.

You can also call the 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247

There is also the rape and sexual abuse support line run by Rape Crisis England and Wales – you can call the helpline on 0808 500 2222 or use the online chat (both are free and are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year)