A COWDENBEATH woman who was raped in her own home ten years ago has vowed to fight to change laws to help her fellow survivors.

Mother-of-three Julie Spence has decided it is time to speak out and has launched a petition to change the length of sentence given to sex attackers as well as one to stop dangerous criminals being bailed.

Julie, 40, has waived her lifelong right to anonymity in the hope it will help other sufferers and help in her fight to have laws tightened.

Harpal Singh Sehra was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after assaulting and raping Julie in her Ballingry home in April 2011.

He pounced just 12 days after being granted bail on assault and abduction allegations against her.

A judge at the time described the rape as a “brutal attack” given the injuries sustained.

"It has taken me a long time, a decade, to speak out," Julie told the Times. "When the attack happened in 2011, I was failed by the Scottish bailing system which put my life in danger. I was told at the time by Fife Police that my story had the power to change the bailing system.

"I was not in a place strong enough to do that. The bailing system has changed since then. After a decade, I would like it to be known that I don't blame Lord Frank Mullholland personally but he put my life in danger. He had the option to remand my attacker every time.

"I was first attacked by Harpal Singh Sehra in 2009. He attacked me and sentenced to 18 months then he was released. It took him to rape and almost murder me before he would remand him."

Julie wants anyone convicted of rape to be sentenced to a minimum of 20 years because of the long-lasting impact on their victim

"I felt like I was let down then when my rapist was sentenced to four years and sentenced me to life," she explained. "I have suffered suicidal thoughts. It has affected my emotional health. When someone gets raped, they don't get get raped once, they will get raped forever in the form of flashbacks. All it takes is a smell or to see someone.

"When I found out my rapist only got four years, I no longer wanted to live. My friend committed suicide after being raped. It is trying to live with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It becomes a challenge day in day out and people will say they don't want to live anymore.

"I will petition for change until the day I die. I think this is the only way I can possibly try and come to terms with things is if I fight."

Julie has been in contact with Cowdenbeath MSP Annabelle Ewing and North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie about her campaign.

Ms Ewing said: “I have a great deal of sympathy for Ms Spence and her personal experiences of the system and wrote to the Lord Advocate on her behalf raising the general issues around bail about which she is now concerned.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about Julie's petition can do so by visiting www.change.org/p/microsoft-campaign-life-for-scottish-rapists/u/28242495.