WE are now so accustomed to reading about rape incidents that it takes something close to home to make us really think.

The account of the Bolton 17-year-old attacked and raped in the town centre after a night out in a club, however, really struck home.

It happened in August last year and 23-year-old Wayne Pugh is currently serving an indeterminate sentence for the attack.

He had followed her out of the club after approaching her there, forced her into an alley and repeatedly raped her.

There was no-one around to help her and nowhere to run. Pugh, much bigger than the girl, soon got her onto the ground and put a hand over her mouth to stop her screaming.

She remembers vividly the look on his face: "He had so much anger in him."

She didn't want to report it at first, but did, and bravely decided to speak out about her ordeal because she wants other females who may have endured a similar experience not to suffer in silence.

Incidents of rape have risen considerably over the last decade.

Apart from the thousands reported, it's fair to say that there are many, many incidents which are not.

Sometimes, the victims cannot even tell husbands, boyfriends or close family members about it because they are too ashamed and embarrassed.

It's a very understandable reaction.

Most females would just want something like that to go away and to get their lives back.

But this just plays into the hands of the rapists who rely on control and fear to intimidate both initially and later.

The police cannot catch such scum without the co-operation of victims.

It takes a particular kind of courage to report rape, and even more to speak out in public to let people know just how damaging such almost casual crime can be.

This local teenager says she is now "a totally different person", and it is hard to see how anyone could stay as they were after such a vicious and degrading assault.

Talking about such a life-changing incident, though, and getting strong support from both the police and the courts to deal with the man who did it is helping her.

Silence only freezes that moment in time for the victim, and allows the rapist to continue his evil behaviour.