I am a Muslim female refugee, who was raped and sexually exploited by her lecturer and barrister at a prominent London university.

I was a victim of hate crime at my dormitory and sought help from one of the teachers, hereafter known as M. M is a senior civil servant and solicitor. M started making sexual advances and raped me.

After being sexually exploited, I entered into a relationship with him. Out of shame for what had happened to me and in depths of despair, I thought I had no other option but to be with him. I was his sex slave, and housekeeper. I thought no one would marry me so I had no choice but to get married to him. But in my faith, I cannot marry outside people of my religion. He told me he would marry me but not convert. M told me that he “had talked about marriage to make it easy for X to have sex”.

It took me much longer to realise I was also a victim of coercive control.

Not only had I been raped by someone I had trusted as being in authority in a new country, but I had also been emotionally and sexually abused by them over the course of our relationship. M constantly made me feel bad about how I looked, talked or of my refugee status.

M had sexual relationships with other women as well at the same time he was with me and this exploitation led to a complete breakdown of my physical, mental and emotional health. I became suicidal and the paramedics were called. I complained of M’s behaviour to professional bodies and tried to get in touch with his family members to talk about what was happening.

He lodged a criminal police case of harassment against me to counter my police report of sexual assault. Due to the trauma I have faced, I am now disabled and experience complex PTSD. I was not always like this. I was a bright and happy student both in my home country and here.

I was found guilty of stalking and harassing him and his partner. I do not think I was adequately represented and my faith, culture, refugee status and PTSD was not taken into account. I spent more than 2 years in prison for this, experiencing abuse and oppression. I worked with friends and lawyers to submit an appeal. The funds for this were partially raised by crowdjustice. My appeal was submitted but rejected. I have ONE chance to appeal it and I'm raising funds to do that.

All funds raised are sent directly to my solicitor's client account to pay for legal fees.