Juliana Terlizzi, who is working with Richmond Park MP Sarah Olney on her campaign to allow rape victims to obtain court transcripts for free has said that she felt 'used' by the criminal justice system. 

Ms Terlizzi, who has waived her right to anonymity, was drugged and raped by her then-boyfriend in 2020.  

She was completely unconscious and unresponsive and had no recollection of what had happened.  

He also stole £300 from her PayPal account 

Her boyfriend had recorded the assault and Juliana discovered the file on the computer after he threatened to send the recording to her Father.  

Once she discovered the recording she went to the police and reported the sexual assault and the theft, it would be a further two years until the trial.  

She told Nub News: "I basically didn't leave my house for those two years. It was horrifying.  

"At the time I lived in Ealing, he was not allowed to enter the Borough of Ealing, but he came to my address and the police didn't even investigate. 

"It was horrible. The police were doing a very bad job investigating and then eventually when we did get to trial - it was a ten day trial.  

"He was on bail at the time which was very terrifying because he was walking the same hallways as I was." 

Juliana gave evidence at the trial and afterwards asked if she could stay and watch the rest of the trial but she was told that she could only stay if she sat where the jury could not see her. 

Juliana was barely able to leave her house for two years. (Photo Credit: Juliana Terlizzi).

Juliana said: "It's wrong why shouldn't I be allowed to watch my own trial? 

"The prosecutor was insisting before I gave evidence that I use a screen and I said no, I don't want to.  

"I spoke with other victims and when they use a screen they say you can't watch the trial because now your next to him. Its so bad because its the right of the victim and most of them don't even get the chance or feel comfortable to stay there." 

She added: "The CJS uses the victims to get the trial but we're so mistreated and so misinformed it's absolutely horrifying.  

"I was more traumatised by the whole experience than the actual rape. That's how bad it was." 

"And then we're just discarded, like okay you gave evidence we don't care about you now.".  

Terlizzi was advised by her therapist that a transcript of proceedings would aid her healing. 

She contacted the court and found out that it would cost her almost £7,500 to get access to the transcripts and her request to the Crown Court for a free transcript of the trial was rejected. 

Juliana said: "I could not afford it. For two years I had to stop my work because this person was out, he was coming to my address, I wasn't safe, and my mental health was a mess. 

"So I was just like okay I can't have this, I'll have to move on without this. That was January 2022 and the reality is I haven't been able to move on from this.  

"I felt like I was being robbed of the right to heal and move on. 

"This is information about me. I should be able to access it for free." 

Ms Terlizzi, then contacted her MP Sarah Olney, who was shocked to hear that victims did not have free access to their court transcripts.  

Olney has tabled an amendment to the Victims' Bill. (Photo Credit: Sarah Olney).

Olney has tabled an amendment to the Victims' Bill to enable all victims to request a transcript of court proceedings free of charge and is calling on the Government to address this inequality, by at least matching the commitment made in Scotland to introduce a pilot scheme to waive court transcript fees for victims of sexual violence.  

Further, the Richmond Park MP is calling on the Government to assess the value for money provided by current contracts with private companies who produce transcripts and to look into how new technologies can be adopted to reduce costs.  

Olney said: "I am proud to join my constituent Juliana in calling for this vital change. 

"Justice should not have a price tag. Yet currently victims like Juliana are being denied access to justice if they cannot afford to pay eye-watering fees. 

She added: "As most victims do not attend trial, a transcript of court proceedings is essential to provide clarity on how the verdict was reached and to aid victims' recovery.