A MOTHER who was raped while she slept at home has spoken about the ordeal.

Denise Collman, 22, has left her home in Pantile Avenue, Southend, where the attack happened, and says she still has nightmares.

She spoke out after rapist Nathaniel Bricknell, 25, was jailed for five years yesterday for the attack on March 31 this year.

She said: “He was my friend. I had known him and his girlfriend for about a year.

“I saw him every day, he was lovely. If you ever needed help he would be there.

“I never thought he would do this to me. It has destroyed my life.”

Bricknell, who was Denise’s neighbour, had visited her that evening with his two children. She was on heavy medication for bipolar disorder and fell asleep.

She woke up a short time later with Bricknell on top of her.

She pushed him away and ran out of the flat to call the police.

She said: “I haven’t been coping. I thought I knew him, I thought he was my friend. I had even left my son with him.

“I was digging my nails into my skin and pulling my hair. How could I let this happen to me? Why me?

“I was taken to the police station and began to be violently sick from shock and anger. I lost my house, I lost everything because of him.

“After a couple of days I was put in a women’s refuge because I couldn’t physically go home. My moods were all over the place.”

Since then Southend Council has moved her to a new home in Shoebury.

She said: “The first thing I did was to buy new locks.

“It is nice, but every time I walk into the flat I know why I am there. I put an extra lock on the front door, because I am scared someone could rape me again.

“I have to live with the fact that he raped me and I thought he was my friend. How can I make new friends?

“I want to know why he raped me and I want to know if he is sorry he got caught, or sorry he raped me.

“He has ruined my life. I got a bigger punishment than any judge will give him and that makes me sick.”

Denise has bravely waived her right to anonymity in an attempt to help other victims and urged them to come forward.

She said: “I thought about pulling out of pressing charges several times because it was just too much to go through.

“The police were excellent. Det Con Sandy Greenway has been a lifesaver.

“She is not doing it because it is her job, she goes beyond her job. She is doing it because it means something.

“I don’t have any regrets about calling the police, I am glad I went ahead with it.”