Sex assault victim seeks stricter restraining orders

A woman who was sexually assaulted by her mother's former partner has called for stricter restraining orders to be imposed on offenders after encountering her attacker.

Milly, who has waived her right to anonymity, saw her abuser at the retail park where she worked following his release from prison.

Andrew Wilcox, from Rotherham, was given an order preventing him contacting Milly after being jailed in 2024, but there was no restriction prohibiting him being in the same area as her.

Milly said she thought the conditions of the order had not been "communicated properly" to her by police. A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said the force was "determined" to keep learning from victims' feedback.

There is no suggestion Wilcox breached the order.

Wilcox, who pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, served seven months of a 13-month sentence in custody before being released on licence and subject to a restraining order put in place until 2039.

Milly said she felt "let down by the system" when she was informed by police that he had not breached the order because he had not contacted her directly or indirectly.

"I automatically assumed that a restraining order meant that if he saw me in a certain area, he'd have to leave immediately but we since got told that isn't completely true," she said.

The South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "We recognise the importance of keeping victims updated on the development of their case throughout an investigation and criminal justice proceedings, as a crucial part of them feeling supported and that justice has been served in line with their wishes."

They added that the force was "determined" to keep learning from feedback from victims "to ensure the service and care they receive is delivered in line with the Victims' Code of Practice at all stages of the process".

Following her experience, Milly has called for change to help all victims of sexual offences feel safer in their local areas.

"I want there to be a law made which is an immediate restraining order for all sexual violence victims, so when you saw your perpetrator out in public they have to leave," she explained.

The Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman, said many survivors had contacted her about the issue.

"Victims often complain that they weren't made aware of the restraining order and they weren't consulted about the conditions that were going to go into the restraining order," she said.

"Most importantly at the time of sentencing, victims are not even given a copy of the restraining order so they don't really know what the offender isn't allowed to do and in order to keep safe, that is absolutely critical information."

Milly said she had taken the decision to waive her lifelong right to anonymity because she felt so strongly about the issue of restraining orders.

"I'm not afraid to come out publicly," she said.

"It's something that needs to be changed and needs to be out in the open because it's not discussed enough.

"It's knocked me back a step but I know I'll come out stronger because I've got an amazing family who are supporting me.

"I'll get through it, I always get through it and come out the other side."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Sexual violence of any type is a despicable crime, and we recognise the unimaginable harm it causes to survivors as well as the whole of society.

"Abusers who breach restraining orders face tough penalties including jail time and we are committed to ensuring that victims of sexual violence receive the support they deserve.

"We have declared violence against women and girls as a national emergency and are deploying the largest crackdown in British history to halve it within a decade."

A spokesperson from the charity Unlock, which advocates for people with criminal records, said: "Restraining orders play an important role in preventing harassment, intimidation and further harm. However, they are required by law to be targeted and proportionate.

"Victims and defendants alike must be clearly informed about exactly what a restraining order does and does not prohibit. Confusion about the scope of an order can lead to distress for victims and unintentional breaches by individuals trying to comply with the law."

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