A young Colchester mum has spoken of her ordeal at the hands of a rapist who laughed as he attacked her.

Speaking publicly for the first time today the courageous Colchester teenager made an emotional appeal to the public for help in catching her attacker.

At a press conference the 19-year-old told how the rapist "laughed" at her during the ordeal.

She told of her five months of anguish after meeting a man who said he would help her get home following a night out at the Kartouche nightclub in Ipswich on Saturday, July 28.

After a short pause building up the courage to speak to the waiting media the young mother said: "This is very difficult for me. The reason why I have agreed to do this today is because I want people to understand how this has affected me and to ask for the public's help in catching my attacker.

"I had only been to Ipswich once before that night and I left the club very upset, after falling out with my friends.

"I didn't know what to do or where to go, but asked the doorman for directions of how to get to Colchester.

"It is easy for people to sit there and say she shouldn't have been so stupid, walking late at night with a stranger' and 'it's her fault', but I want them to realise how scared I was.

"I was upset and in a town I didn't know. I had no money and just wanted to get home to my son and boyfriend.

"Some people may say I was stupid. Sometimes I feel I was, but I know it wasn't my fault."

She asked the public to phone the police if they think they may know her attacker, who she described as very polite, friendly and well-spoken, which is why she put her trust in him.

Any information to police on 01473 613999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Published Tuesday December 18, 2001