Rape victim visits attacker in prison 'to forgive him'

 
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A rape victim has met her attacker and forgiven him in an extraordinary act of kindness.

Katja Rosenberg’s attacker was just 16 when he forced her off her bike and raped her on a dark footpath in 2006.

Ms Rosenberg, 40, an artist who now runs workshops for disadvantaged children on some of London’s toughest estates, has spent the past two years trying to meet her rapist to tell him she “had understood and forgiven him”.

It was arranged through the restorative justice scheme and prompted by an annual letter she received from the Victim Liaison Unit giving her a general update on the case.

The meeting took place in prison where her attacker, now 23, is serving 14 years after admitting raping her and another woman aged 51.

Ms Rosenberg, from Walthamstow, told the Daily Mirror: “He was not a scary sight – just a human being sitting at a table, waiting, anxious.

“I walked over, shook his hand and introduced myself. I wanted to show him it had not affected my life and that I had understood and forgiven him.

“I wanted to free the past. It was positive for me and positive for him.”

“I’m not allowed to reveal any details of the meeting, but I can say it lasted two and a half hours and I found it a rewarding, uplifting experience.”

She felt he had been as brave as her in agreeing to the unusual meeting, and wanted her attacker to be kept anonymous in order to help him build a new life.

“If someone rapes at the age of 16, it must be possible to see that something went wrong, that there is a lot more to the story.

“I do not agree that he did something unforgivable.

“I found him impressive and I saw a lot of character and intelligence. And endless courage.

“I hope he will be able to live a successful life and inspire people.”

For further information visit restorativejustice.org.uk.

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