"I WISH I had imagined it, why would I put myself through this as if it were some weird dream?"

Those were the words of the alleged victim in the trial of Isle of Wight Cllr Daryll Pitcher, who is charged with rape and indecent assault.

The trial started yesterday (Monday) at the Isle of Wight Crown Court and heard evidence from the woman he allegedly sexually assaulted when they were both children.

The victim said the alleged incidents had been ingrained in her memory forever and that she had never forgotten what had happened.

Mr Pitcher, 46, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape between June 1990 and March 1992 and one of indecent assault of a girl under 13 years old, by having sexual intercourse, between March and June 1990.

Until very recently, the victim said she blamed herself for the incidents but it was only recently, through therapy and counselling, she realised that was not the case.

When asked what made her turn to therapy, the victim said she knew her mental health was deteriorating and her symptoms of trauma were getting worse,  especially through the Covid lockdowns.

"I could walk down the street and see his (Mr Pitcher's) face on other people and I thought I could not carry on like this," she said.

The victim also said she wanted to protect other women from what happened to her.

It was put to the victim, by defence barrister John Dyer, she had made up the allegations.

The victim said: "No, I wanted to feel better and get accountability and justice but he (Mr Pitcher) is denying it all."

She revealed she had told a friend about the abuse, more than 25 years after it happened, and felt supported to talk about it, whereas before "she didn't want people to look at her and see a monster, see a damaged person."

Nick Tucker, for the prosecution, said it was the defence's suggestion the victim had imagined being raped by Mr Pitcher.

The victim said: "I know what happened, there is no way I imagined that."

The trial continues tomorrow (Wednesday).