Emily-Rose Hinnells was led down a dead end, punched and sexually assaulted after asking directions from the apparently harmless stranger.
The 19-year-old was on her way out to meet friends for a birthday celebration in Leeds when she was approached by a man asking for change.
Emily-Rose said: "I assumed he was a harmless homeless guy and ended up asking him for directions as I thought he might be familiar with the streets.
"Unfortunately, he wasn't harmless, or homeless."
Emily, who has waived her right to anonymity, told how her attacker led her down some steps and punched her before carrying out the vile attack by the River Aire.
Emily-Rose, who has a one-year-old daughter with her long-term partner said: "I thought I was going to die.
"As he was raping me my head was next to the canal, I had thoughts of him throwing me into the canal.
"I just couldn't stop thinking about my little girl and was so scared that I might not see here again."
The rapist then grabbed her iPhone, a bottle of Jagermeister and a bank card as he left her in a heap.
Emily-Rose said she refuses to be a victim.
She said: "I am not ashamed to have been raped. I know it is not my fault and I will shout it from the rooftops to say what he did to me.
"I believe speaking out has helped enormously in my healing. This is not a dirty little secret.
"He is the one who has to live with what he has done for the rest of his life. He is the one who should be ashamed of himself, not me."
McNally, who has a personality disorder, pleaded guilty to rape, assault by penetration, robbery and fraud and was convicted at Leeds Crown Court last week to 15 years behind bars.
Emily-Rose said she was left "scared of everything" after the assault on January 20, but is slowly rebuilding her life.
She explained: "It was like being a child and being scared of a monster under the bed.
"I have changed since the assault, I'm not as trusting of strangers, but I am rebuilding my life.
"I am a very positive person and I decided I wasn't going to let this man win."
The courageous teenager has now pledged to tackle the endurance test Tough Mudder to raise money for Rape Crisis – and says she won't be beaten.
"I do not dwell on it or fear him anymore. I think it was very unlucky to have been raped and the chances of it happening again are virtually nil.
"I believe my being so vocal has allowed me to defy him, I refuse to be a victim."
Source: Read Full Article
