Name: Anon
Age: 18
Location: Outside Miller Arcade

“I had been out celebrating the end of my exams with friends. I saw a group of three men outside Manyana in Preston. One approached me and put his hand up my skirt and I told him to go away. The men followed me and friends to Browns and we all began dancing on the dance floor. I went to the toilet, at about 1:30am and when I turned around, he was stood there and the door was shut. I think I was arguing with him. 

After he attacked me, I ran back into the club screaming, I found a police officer outside and begged him to take me to a police station. I wouldn’t let anybody anywhere near me.

It’s been really hard. I blamed myself at first and wouldn’t go out but I’m now having counselling. My parents did not want me to return to university, but I went back because I can’t let one person ruin everything. Everyone is the same and thinks, ‘Oh I can go out and drink as much as I want and it’s never going to happen to me,’ but I’m the unfortunate one that it’s happened to. 

I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”

Maker: Norma Foulds

Preston artworks commissioned by Arts Lancashire as part of Lancashire Arts Exchange