A CHAMPION for women's rights is calling for new legal provisions to stop rape or assault victims being questioned directly by their alleged attackers in court.

Janet Anderson, MP for Rossendale and Darwen and a shadow minister for women, has written to the Home Secretary calling for the review.

Mrs Anderson wants trial judges to be given greater powers so they can require defendants, in serious cases, to accept legal representation.

Her move follows the case where a rape victim was cross-examined for six days by her attacker, and where an alleged stalking victim was quizzed by the man she claimed had tormented her.

The Labour MP said: "Defendants have a right to opt to represent themselves, but that does not give them the right to abuse that privilege in the cause of intimidating witnesses."

Mrs Anderson is calling on the Home Secretary to review the situation urgently as she feared some victims could be frightened of giving evidence in the future.

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