Ealing Vicarage rape victim Jill Saward dies in Wolverhampton

A family statement confirmed Jill Saward, from Hednesford, died at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton yesterday following a stroke.

The mother of three, who was married to Walsall FC match day announcer and journalist Gavin Drake, has spent a lifetime campaigning for the rights of sex attack victims.

She was 21 when she was attacked in March 1986 after a gang broke into her father's vicarage in Ealing, West London.

While she was attacked, her boyfriend and father were battered by the intruders.

The attack received widespread attention not just for its brutality, but also due to a comment in the trial when judge Mr Justice Leonard said the trauma suffered by her 'had not been so great'. Also because three men were jailed but gang leader Robert Horscroft, who did not take part in the rape, got 14 years. The two rapists got lesser sentences.

Martin McCall got just five years for the crime alongside five years for burglary, while Christopher Byrne was jailed for three years for rape and five years for burglary and assault.

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.

One of her recent battles was against a proposal to give people accused of rape anonymity until they are convicted.

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.

Born in Liverpool in 1965, she once wrote that 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 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."

M Saward also helped found campaign group Jurors Understanding Rape Is Essential Standard.

Alison Boydell, from the group, said: "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.

"I miss her terribly. I will do everything in my power to ensure that her work on Juries was not in vain."

While Rape Crisis England & Wales said in a statement: "

Jill was courageous, pioneering and an inspiration. She will be sorely missed."