By Alexis Akwagyiram BBC News

It is hoped changes will make it less stressful to give evidence

A former witness has welcomed proposed changes aimed at making court appearances less stressful for people giving evidence in court.

Sue Brader's biggest fear about appearing in court was the prospect of facing the man who attacked her.

This fear became a reality within minutes of arriving at Kingston Crown Court.

As Mrs Brader prepared to tell a crowded courtroom about the night-time attack just months before, which left her traumatised, she found herself sitting a few yards from the man who attacked her in the court waiting room.

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"I couldn't believe the situation I was in," said Mrs Brader, 50, a web developer from Surrey.

"It was bad enough having to relive the ordeal but the situation was made more traumatic by the fact that I came face to face with my attacker without any warning.

"Seeing him left me feeling unsettled - I felt very intimidated and nervous."

She added: "We didn't make eye contact at any stage, but his very presence so near to me was very unpleasant.

"I'm sure it was stressful for both of us."

A victim support counsellor, who accompanied Mrs Brader, led her to another waiting room after around 15 minutes of sitting near the attacker.

But the victim's ordeal followed her from the waiting room to the court room.

She said: "I found being on the witness stand very stressful.

Cross-examination

"I was very close to tears when I had to describe the attack. I had a feeling of dread in my stomach and I was deeply upset - it was extremely traumatic.

"The barristers were not attacking me, but they did question what I was saying. Fortunately I was supported by strong forensic evidence."

The Lord Chancellor wants all crown courts and the vast majority of magistrates' courts to have facilities to keep witnesses separate from defendants within four years.

Mrs Brader welcomed the proposed changes contained in the Department for Constitutional Affairs' plan, particularly the use of more video links for witnesses to give evidence.

"The idea of enabling witnesses to give evidence in a separate location makes a lot of sense - particularly in rape cases, situations where young people give evidence or in circumstances where a person has been assaulted.

"I'm sure it will help in cases where witnesses are intimidated. I definitely would have appreciated the opportunity to give evidence in this way."

'Formal setting'

She added: "I'm not lacking in confidence, but the formal setting and the wigs, for example, were all intimidating and made giving evidence nerve-wracking.

"I was also intensely aware that I was giving evidence while my husband watched. Obviously it was stressful for him too and this contributed to it being an unpleasant experience for me."

Mrs Brader was attacked as she left Kew Gardens tube station one night in January 1989.

After appearing in court in November of that year, her attacker was sentenced to two years imprisonment for actual bodily harm.