Over 5,000 people responded to The Tab’s sexual assault survey, and of that, an astonishing number said they’d been raped or sexually assaulted.

15 per cent — 18 per cent of girls and five per cent of boys — said they had been victims of rape, while a further 36 per cent reported being victims of assault. A further 87 per cent said they’d been groped in nightclubs, and 27 per cent said they’d been spiked.

Nearly half — 39 per cent — reported having sex without remembering what happened the next day, while 30 per cent admitted to having sex with someone after going back from a night out when they didn’t want to.

The survey had an impressive 5,357 respondents, but it was voluntary and anonymous, so its results are only indicative, and cannot be extrapolated out for all students.

But some of the stories submitted by respondents were incredibly powerful and brave, and we reproduce them anonymously here (names have been changed). They are a rare window into the reality of rape and sexual assault for British students.

Jen*

It’s not often you hear someone in the news for raping the girl they are seeing, it’s usually an unknown attacker who strikes during the night in an unlit park or something, but that’s not how it was for me.

I would never have guessed my funny lovely guy would ever be the one that would be the one to make my life hell for a while, the one who gave me panic attacks when he looked at me in clubs and made me vomit when he passed me in the street. We were only seeing each other for a few weeks before it happened. He was actually visiting my house for the second time because I was ill and he brought me food. I was only 18 and he was 23.

When he attacked me it seemed to go on for a long time but it couldn’t have been longer than a minute, I consented at first and after a while it really started to hurt and it felt like my knees were about to pop out of place or something. I kept telling him how much it hurt and asking him to stop but he just said: “Shut up I’m almost there. Be quiet I’m about to cum”. My pleas didn’t stop him, and when I’d finally pushed him off me and told him to get out he left so fast he didn’t even close the door.

For such a long time I was convinced by friends and him that it wasn’t rape he was just being dirty, or that I was exaggerating. But a few months later I sat drunk and crying and realised it for what it was, I had been raped, he had gotten away with it, and no I wasn’t going to tell the police because I didn’t want to ruin his life. Consent classes are important to me now, because maybe if this normal average guy had went to one I wouldn’t have been raped.

Lauren*

When a guy knew I was really drunk on a night out, I asked if he could drop me home in his taxi. He made sure the taxi only stopped at his house, and since I didn’t know where I was, and couldn’t walk, I had to go inside. He blocked the door and got naked, since the assumption was that I would be easy and would not put up a fight since I was drunk. Luckily I could still push past him. I ran out and rang a friend to help me get home. It was disgusting and made me feel like it was my fault for being drunk.

Emma*

I was on a sports social at a Russell Group uni, and since I had a 9am the next day I hadn’t intended to drink much. I felt tipsy upon entering the club, and ordered one last drink at the bar. After having this drink I don’t remember a thing, so I’m not sure if I was spiked or if everything caught up with me, but while mind-blanks are normal for me with alcohol, this was an extreme case.

I had just started speaking to and kind of seeing someone who was aware that I don’t have sex with people I’m not dating — and given that I’ve never been in a relationship, I was particularly protective. Despite this, I woke up in the morning to be greeted by him telling me we had slept together. I thought he was joking because I didn’t remember and I felt nothing. Normally even when drunk I’m in control of myself in those type of situations, and most importantly for me, boys normally respect my views.

It’s difficult to know how the night played out, but I know I wouldn’t have consented sober (even though we had started seeing each other it was too early on and we weren’t officially dating). He apologised and I let it slide but made sure to be more aware in the future. After he tried it on again while he was sober I stopped talking to him because I felt there was no respect for me or my views. Only when talking to my best friend did I realise that this could count as rape or sexual assault due to the lack of official consent alcohol creates, and wouldn’t be surprised if the same has happened to others.

I only spoke to friends about it due to the shock of it happening and the mixed reactions I received. Several boys I told essentially found it amusing and said things along the lines of “it takes two to tango” and “you must have been up for it at the time”. Even some girls said things like “you can’t pretend it didn’t happen because you regret it”, clearly ignoring the fact it was that I don’t believe I had control over the situation rather than just regret doing it. Other girls and boys were very supportive and gave me lots of comforting advice, and many don’t speak to the boy involved any more, especially after hearing other rumours about him. The people who said I was wrong to “throw about” the word rape put me off reporting anything even though I was fairly certain I was right. I was also quite upset and ashamed for a while.

I previously believed in no sex before marriage so this wasn’t an ideal way to lose my virginity.

Beth*

I met lovely guy in smoking area during Freshers’. We went back to his but said I didn’t want to have sex. He was determined though and started pushing me and holding me down to try and keep me still so he could get it in. We struggled like this for about five mins, none of his flat were in to hear. I got away but had bruises all over my boobs, which are still here a week later.

James*