My daughter was 13 years old. She said no.

Her friend heard her say no.

And a courtroom still debated whether she consented.

When someone is mugged, they do not always fight back. Sometimes they freeze. Sometimes they comply. We do not say they consented to being robbed.

My daughter did not fight back. She did not scream. She did not run.

That is not consent. That is survival.

These are recognised trauma responses experienced by people in states of fear. You do not have to be autistic to experience them. You just have to be human.

My daughter is autistic. That made everything even harder. The fear was greater. The confusion was greater. The inability to process what was happening in real time was greater.

And she still said no.

Autism affects communication, emotional expression and responses to stress and trauma.

It does not affect the truth.

My daughter’s assault was also filmed and shared on social media. Regardless of the outcome of the most serious allegation, the recording and distribution of that video caused its own trauma and lasting harm. Survivors should never feel that parts of what happened to them have simply been overlooked. Every alleged criminal offence should be properly investigated and, where the evidence supports it, prosecuted, so that victims know every aspect of the harm they suffered has been taken seriously.

My daughter found the courage to do everything that was asked of her. She reported what happened. She gave evidence. She relived her trauma. She endured a criminal justice process that lasted years. She made it all the way to trial.

And our family was left feeling unheard, misunderstood and failed.

Courts recognise vulnerability when assessing defendants. Vulnerable victims deserve the same.

UK law provides protections through the Equality Act 2010, the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 and the Victims’ Code. Too many families feel these protections are not consistently applied.

This must change.

We are calling for:

Trauma responses to never be used against victims in court.
Mandatory training for judges, juries and legal professionals on trauma and neurodivergence.
Court processes to become trauma-informed and autism-sensitive.
Specialist expertise in autism and trauma in cases involving vulnerable victims.
A review of how Section 28 evidence is experienced by autistic and vulnerable victims.
Better safeguarding and accountability where serious offences are committed by children and young people.
Every alleged criminal offence arising from the same incident to be properly investigated and, where the evidence supports it, prosecuted, so that no aspect of the harm suffered by a victim is overlooked.
She said no.

The courtroom debated it anyway.

The justice system failed my child.

"My daughter's story cannot be changed.

But together, we can change what happens to the next child. Please stand with us."