A woman who endured a near six-year wait for her childhood sexual abuser to be convicted has issued a powerful plea to the Government, urging ministers to stop using cases like hers to justify controversial plans to cut jury trials. Vicki Crawford, 53, has told Justice Secretary David Lammy he is making a 'huge mistake'.
'Not in my name': A survivor's open letter
In an open letter to Mr Lammy, Ms Crawford, a carer from Croydon, south London, stated that despite experiencing 'traumatic' delays that pushed her to the brink of a nervous breakdown, her case and those of other survivors should not be used to 'dilute' justice. "I do not want to be associated with people losing their rights," she said. "Not in my name."
She emphasised that fellow survivors share her view, rejecting the idea that reducing defendants' rights should be done in the name of sexual violence victims. "It's just not correct. It's not right," Ms Crawford added.
The battle over 'swift courts' and the 80,000-case backlog
Mr Lammy argues urgent reform is desperately needed to clear a backlog of 80,000 cases. His 'swift courts' proposal would see defendants facing a maximum sentence of three years or less lose the right to a jury trial, with a judge sitting alone deciding guilt or innocence.
The Justice Secretary has cited rape statistics, noting that 60% of victims withdraw before case resolution, as proof that delays are denying justice. However, barristers have accused him of misrepresenting these figures to 'cynically' win support. Lawyers argue that better solutions include adding court sitting days, repairing crumbling courtrooms, and improving prisoner transport logistics.
Delayed justice and the power of a jury's verdict
Ms Crawford was 14 when groomed and abused by her sister's boyfriend, Melvyn Little, then 25. She reported him to police in 2018. After the CPS initially refused to prosecute, a review led to an apology for missing evidence and Little was charged with eight counts of indecent assault in May 2021.
A series of delays, including judge illness and Little failing to attend hearings, meant the trial did not begin until March 2023. Ms Crawford, who waived anonymity, said the 'validation' from the jury's unanimous guilty verdicts was immense. "One thing that gave me huge comfort was that 12 people unanimously agreed that my abuser was guilty," she explained.
She contrasted her five-year, eight-month wait with the speedy justice meted out after the Southport riots, stating: "That showed that when the Government wants to fast-track something, they can... If they could do that with hundreds of cases, why was mine left... for so long?"
Mounting political opposition and a call to 'think again'
Mr Lammy faces significant internal opposition, with reports suggesting up to 60 Labour MPs, including former Deputy PM Angela Rayner, may vote against the plans. The rebellion is led by Karl Turner, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull East and a former barrister, who has coordinated a letter calling for the government to 'think again' and produce a more credible proposal.
Ms Crawford, who emailed her letter to Mr Lammy and posted it on X, said she had received no reply but would happily meet him to discuss the impact of delays. She concluded her argument by stating: "You cannot improve the justice system by cutting costs... So fund it properly and don't use excuses like complainants walking away... to dilute down justice and rights. It's not acceptable."
