'Hunted' star reveals she almost died after being sexually assaulted at 17

Hunted star Julie Clegg has revealed that she almost died after being sexually assaulted at the age of 17.

Clegg, who is part of the Hunters team on the fugitive-chasing Channel 4 programme, recounted the traumatic experience while appearing on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday (February 20).

“When I was 17, it was a family friend that sexually assaulted me,” she said. “It was a serious sexual assault, in fact I almost died. It was very traumatic as a 17-year-old. It was at my home address, round about Christmas time. It was someone who was known to the family, completely unexpected.

“The first attack happened when they were invited in and the next day when I was in bed sleeping, they broke in and attacked me again when the house was empty.”

Clegg then explained how the support she received from the police, and a female officer in particular, made a massive impact on her life and inspired her to pursue a career in the force.

“There was one moment when Diane [the officer] came into the interview room, I remember just standing there and her saying, ‘No matter what happens, we believe you’.

“That for me was a profound moment, first of all it never occurred to me that anyone wouldn’t believe me, I was telling the truth and second just to hear those words and to know it was ok, made me feel so safe.”

Clegg added that, up until that point, she was going to become a journalist, but after seeing how Diane managed to make a positive difference to her life, she decided to change career paths and become an investigator instead.

Before encouraging other victims to come forward for help, she explained how she’s come to terms with her assault, stating: “I would say I have completely processed it. I made a decision at that time, as a young girl, not to internalise any guilt or shame… I decided to move on that way. I decided I was going to help others.”

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