A teenager tried to kill herself during the trial of ten men accused of grooming her for sex from the age of 11, it can be revealed today.
The 17-year-old took an overdose of pills after her first day in the witness box. Proceedings were halted for several days in May while she was treated in hospital before resuming her evidence.
The girl gave evidence for 11 days at Oxford Crown Court, during which she was cross-examined by ten defence barristers representing the men from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, who faced multiple counts of rape and other child-sex offences.
This came after the death of violin teacher Frances Andrade, who killed herself in January after being cross examined at the trial of a man who was later convicted of abusing her at 14. In one emotional moment in court she said the experience of being a liar by the defense counsel felt like rape all over again
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