Jill Saward waived her right to anonymity to campaign for other victims Picture: Rex)

A courageous woman who was the first victim of rape to ever waive her right to anonymity in the UK has passed away.

Jill Saward, who was raped during a burglary at her father’s vicarage, has died aged 51.

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Ms Saward was 21 when she was attacked in at her home 1986, while her father and boyfriend were tied up.

The attack received widespread attention not just for its horrifying brutality, but when judge Mr Justice Leonard said the trauma suffered she ‘had not been so great’.


Ms Saward went on to write a book about the attack, which came to be known as the ‘Ealing Vicarage Rape’, and campaign on issues including sexual violence and violence against women.



Many believe her tireless campaigning has dramatically improved the way in which victims are treated and even the law surrounding cases of sexual assaults.

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Jill Saward has died aged 51 (Picture: PA)

One of her recent campaigns was to oppose a proposal to give those accused of rape anonymity until they are convicted, saying this implied victims were lying.

Under anonymity rules in place at the time of her case, Ms Saward was not allowed to know the name of her rapist until the day of the court hearing.

She said that the shock of learning the name in court distracted her from concentrating on the evidence she had to give.

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Ms Saward, who was born in Liverpool in 1965, once said she had no issues with being ‘tagged’ as a rape victim, adding: ‘I make no complaint about this tag as it has enabled me to challenge politicians and work for change.’

In a statement on her website from her family said: ‘It is with deep shock and great sadness that we must announce that Jill Saward (Jill Drake) died this morning in New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, following a subarachnoid haemorrhage on Tuesday. She was 51-years old.

‘In consultation with medical staff, the family readily agreed to Jill’s desire to be an organ donor.

‘Jill dedicated the past 30 years of her life to helping other people. It gives us great comfort to know that our wonderful wife, mother and sister was able to help other people to the very end. We would like to thank all those who contributed to her medical care in recent days.

‘We are also so very grateful for the many expressions of prayer, love and support we have received. At this stage we would appreciate space and time to come to terms with what has happened.’

Alison Boydell, of campaign group Jurors Understanding Rape Is Essential Standard (Juries), said: ‘I am overwhelmed with sadness that Juries co-founder and friend, Jill Saward died this morning.

‘Jill was an indefatigable advocate for victim-survivors of sexual violence and dedicated her life to campaigning and raising awareness of rape and sexual violence.

‘She also championed many other campaigns and causes and supported so many through her work, kindness and compassion.

‘I miss her terribly. I will do everything in my power to ensure that her work on Juries was not in vain and that victim-survivors get justice.’

The Ealing Vicarage Rape Burglar Robert Horscroft, then 34, who was not directly involved in the rape, was sentenced to 14 years in jail for the burglary. While Martin McCall, then 22, was sentenced to five years for rape and a another five for the burglary. And Christopher Byrne, who was also 22 at the time of the assault, was given three years for the rape of Ms Saward and an additional five years for the burglary of the vicarage.